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Rio Carnival 2016 Guide and Program

Welcome to RIO.com, the most trusted choice for planning and booking your Rio Carnival vacation of a lifetime! Congratulations on being just a click away from experiencing the magic and wonder of Rio Carnival 2016. The 2016 Rio Carnival festival is set to take place February 13-18, 2016 in the Marvelous City of Rio de Janeiro. With all the excitement surrounding Rio, the Sambadrome during Rio Carnival 2016 will play host the biggest party on the planet! On RIO.com you’ll find everything you need to make the most out of your trip to the 2016 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro: from the legendary Rio Carnival 2016 Balls to the glorious Samba Parades, in which 12 of Rio de Janeiro’s most elite samba schools parade on the “special days” of Rio Carnival — Carnival Sunday and Monday, February 7th and 8th, 2016 — to the Access days — Friday and Saturday, February 5th and 6th – when the other 15 samba schools parade down the runway of the official home of Rio Carnival, the Rio de Janeiro Sambadrome. Learn all about Sambadrome sectors and how to secure your Rio Carnival 2016 tickets. Explore your many transportation options and book your spot on the RIO.com 2015 roundtrip hotel/Sambadrome shuttle transfer.

The Complete 2016 Rio Carnival Package

Explore the Rio Carnival Costumes section to learn how to take advantage of the unique and exciting opportunity to parade down the samba runway with a real samba school in front of 80,000 screaming spectators! Book your Rio Carnival 2016 hotel accommodations from RIO.com’s unparalleled inventory of Rio de Janeiro hotels and hostels and secure your roundtrip shuttle transfer from your hotel or cruise ship to the Sambodromo and back. When you’re ready to head back from the Sambadrome, our shuttles will depart from the Sambadrome gate every hour on the hour after midnight (in between the processions of each Samba School). On a night when you’re not at the unbeatable Sambadrome Parade, dance the night away at one of the legendary Rio Carnival Ballstaking place each night at venues throughout Rio de Janeiro. From the exclusive Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel to the Scala Ball Series at the Rio Scala Nightclub downtown — find it all on RIO.com!

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Rio Carnival 2016 Special Group Sambadrome Parade Schedule:

 

Time	Feb 7 (Sunday)	Feb 8 (Monday)
09:00 – 10:15 PM	Estácio	Vila Isabel
10:05 – 11:20 PM	União da Ilha	Salgueiro
11:10 – 11:45 PM	Beija-Flor	São Clemente
12:15 – 01:05 AM	Grande Rio	Portela
01:20 – 02:30 AM	Mocidade	Imperatriz
02:25 – 03:50 AM	Unidos da Tijuca	Mangueira

 

2016 Rio Carnival Balls Schedule:

 

DAY	BALL	TICKETS
Friday, February 5, 2016	Red and Black Ball	Buy Tickets
Saturday, February 6, 2016	Mangueira Carnival Ball	Buy Tickets
Sunday, February 7, 2016	City Ball	Buy Tickets
Monday, February 8, 2016	The Ball of the Beer	Buy Tickets
Tuesday, February 9, 2016	Gay Gala Ball	Buy Tickets
* Prices and dates are subject to change.

2016 Rio Carnival: A Spectacle not to be missed!

From the sexy beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema to Rio Carnival and the steamy Rio de Janeiro nightlife, the energy emanated by the Marvelous City of Rio de Janeiro is nothing short of electrifying. Even more exhilarating are the deliciously bronzed and toned samba dancers, the pulsating samba music, the frantic applause of the spectators, and of course, partying at Rio Carnival 2016. Rio Carnival is held every year in the week leading up to Lent and attracts visitors from all across the globe looking to let loose and explore the Carioca Carnival culture. It is inconceivable to think of Rio de Janeiro without thinking of Rio Carnival. Anticipation builds and the excitement grows as the Carnival time gets closer and closer. Bar none, Rio Carnival is the favorite holiday celebration in Rio.  The city glows with the smiles and energy of the locals — or Cariocas.  Samba music can be heard coming from neighborhoods and favelas all throughout the city and crowds gather to dance and make merry all day and night. It is the inherent spirit of the Cariocas and their true joie de vive that makes Rio Carnival such a glorious success year after year.

Sexing up the Sambadrome

In Rio, things are never done in half measure — except, of course, when it comes to wearing bikinis — and the no-holds-bar spirit is evident from the pomp and circumstance with which the Carnival is celebrated. Since 1984, all the excitement of Rio Carnival has taken place at the Sambadrome, the purpose-built venue constructed specially for the occasion. Before its construction, the Samba parades were held on one of the most important streets in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Presidente Vargas Avenue. The pulsating beats of the samba drums, gyrating dancers, and the thousands of participants in curve-hugging and elaborate costumes, midriff tops, and stilettos are only some of the highs in store to be experienced at Rio Carnival 2016.

The Party Never Stops

All else comes to a halt during the four days of Rio Carnival, with the exception of samba, women, beer, and partying all night long. Once the Sambadrome empties, the parties continue at every street corner all over the city. Throughout the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, Cariocas (or Rio de Janeiro locals) celebrate the arrival of Rio Carnival. People dance along the streets singing the legendary songs of the Samba. In a truly unique exhibition and celebration of unity and common ground, everyone in Rio comes together in friendship and fun to enjoy the Rio Carnival balls, Rio Carnival in the street with street parades, blocos, bandas and street parties — and of course, the excitement that takes place in the Sambadrome. During Carnival, Cariocas make no distinction between locals and foreigners, who are most welcome to participate in all aspects of the event. In fact, visitors can grab a place on the samba runway as a participant parading alongside one of the samba schools. All you need is to buy one of the school specific costumes and you are a part of the team. Your energy, enthusiasm and excitement will contribute to the success or failure of your Samba School in the final results of the Rio Carnival Sambadrome Parade.

2016 Rio Carnival Overview

Of all the carnival celebrations throughout the world, the 2016 Rio Carnival is, without a doubt, the real deal. This is the time when Cariocas are at their best, and why would you expect anything less with the Marvelous City of Rio de Janeiro considered the Carnival Capital of the World. The fact that most people call it the greatest show on earth means there has to be something special and unique about it. Each year, the four-day festival begins on Saturday and ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent. There is distinctly a vibrant, licentious air in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, with many even referring to it in fun as a sort of ‘carioca madness’ that is seemingly contagious. To find out if this is the party for you, ask anyone in Rio who has celebrated the Carnival.  Many will say Rio Carnival is a once in a lifetime experience and should not be missed. We say that once is not enough! When you experience Rio Carnival the right way, something will change deep within your soul and you are sure to come back for more! Secure your tickets to watch its main event: the Samba Parade.

Samba Schools and the Sambadrome

The center of attraction is, of course, the Sambadrome in downtown Rio, where the Samba Parade has been held since 1984. As tourists begin to arrive, the city virtually comes to a halt for all four days leading up to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. While the Sambadrome may be the focus of the Carnival, the focal point is undoubtedly the samba schoolsand their vivacious women samba dancers, who are a quintessential part of the Carnival.

Porta Bandeira – The Crowd Favorite

Women are at the head of the parade of each samba school. They have the job of conquering not only the spectators’ hearts, which is not too difficult, but those of the judges too. The Porta bandeira, the flag bearer of the samba school, in an intricate sequin and feather costume is the first to enter the samba strip as the crowds stand and cheer as she passes by performing the most elaborate samba steps. Accompanying the Porta Bandeira is her protector the Mestre Sala.  Inspired by the nobility of the eighteenth century, the couple is adorned with very elaborate costumes.  His job is to guide and watch over her as she dances along the parade route.  Originally, he would guard her armed with a knife so other samba schools could not distract her and cause her to lose points.  The Porta Bandeira must dance and interact with the Mestre Sala as well as the audience.  She cannot allow the flag she carries to touch her body or wind around the flagpole.  To do so would result in a loss of points for her troupe. Then come the floats with beautiful women sensually dancing the samba in the tiniest of costumes, accompanied on either side of the floats by ‘alas’ or sections of the samba school. Each section has a different type of costume, all of them breathtaking to say the least.

Rio Carnival Parade Ticket. A Ticket to Lots and Lots of Fun

All roads lead to the 2016 Rio Sambadrome on Carnival nights. It is advisable to take the subway or a taxi to reach the stadium. Admission is around $100 for the grand stand, with seating arrangements priced anywhere between $200’s to $1,000. However, it is even more fun joining the samba parade. To be able to participate in a Samba School parade, all you need to do is pre-order a costume with us. Yes, your costume is your ticket to parading.