Rio de Janeiro Carnival is the most famous carnival in the world. Visitors flock to Brazil’s the ‘Carnival Capital’, each year to take part in five days of extravagant costume parades, street parties and high-profile balls.
Fly by private jet charter to the Rio Carnival 2018
Rio de Janeiro Carnival is the most famous carnival in the world. Visitors flock to Brazil’s the ‘Carnival Capital’, each year to take part in five days of extravagant costume parades, street parties and high-profile balls.
Celebrations begin on the Friday, as hordes of people take to Rio’s streets dressed in colourful costumes and dancing to the heavy beat of samba, a type of music that originated in Rio. Throughout the city and along Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches, over 300 street bands perform at more than 500 open-air parties. The biggest organised party is held in Cinelândia Square, with popular singers and bands performing each night.
The Sambadrome parades, which take place in the famous Sambódromo stadium, are the highlight of Carnival. Every neighborhood in Rio has its own Samba school and members spend months planning elaborate performances filled with sparkling costumes, dancing, floats and music. This year, the Special Group parades take place on February 11 and 12, with the top 12 groups competing to be crowned best samba school. Luxury suite tickets to the Special Group parades start from $1,654.
When you’re not partying in the streets and enjoying the samba parades, there are also the carnival balls to attend. The most exclusive is the Belmond Copacabana Palace Magic Ball, a black tie event with opulent decor, live performers, gourmet cuisine and free-flowing drinks. The Magic Ball is an A-List event attended by movie stars like Brigitte Bardot and Gerard Butler, as well as important names in business and politics. This year’s ball has a gypsy theme and takes place on Saturday, February 10 from 10pm. Ticket prices range from $1,059 to $1,689 and you can buy yours here.
Rio Carnival 2018 Schedule
Friday:
- 13:00: Opening Ceremony, during which the King of Carnival (King Momo) is crowned by the mayor and given the city keys
- 21:00: Preliminary Schools' Parades in Sambodromo
Saturday:
- 09:30: Street Band Cordão do Bola Preta
- 16:00: Ipanema's Band, meeting point at General Osório square, Ipanema
- 20:00: Street Bands' Contest at Av. Rio Branco, Centro
- 21:00: Preliminary Schools' Parades in Sambodromo
- 22:00: Magic Ball at Belmond Copacabana Palace
Sunday:
- 21:00: Main Schools' Parade in Sambodromo
Monday:
- 21:00: Main Schools' Parade in Sambodromo
Tuesday:
- 16:00: Ipanema's Band (last Carnival presentation)
- 21:00: Children's Samba Schools Parades
- 23:00: Gay Ball at Scala Rio
Pack your best costumes and get ready to experience the world’s most sensational Carnival. Allow Air Charter Service to arrange a private jet charter to Rio de Janeiro International Airport, which lies just 30 minutes from the heart of Rio Carnival.