Guinness Certifies Rio’s Copacabana Réveillon as World’s Largest

Overview

• Guinness World Records presented a plaque in Copacabana to Mayor Eduardo Paes confirming the title on December 30.
• Judge Camila Borenstain said the validated tally counted 2.5 million people exclusively on the Copacabana sand during last New Year’s Eve.
• Guinness described reviewing hotel occupancy data, beach plans, per‑square‑meter estimates, police monitoring reports and witness statements.
• The organization created a new category for very large events with a minimum threshold of 2 million people.
• Independent outlets questioned the plausibility of the 2.5 million figure, noting BBC area-based estimates near 660,000 and the reuse of the same number for a May 2025 Lady Gaga show.