Guinness Names Rio’s Copacabana New Year’s Party the World’s Largest as Rough Seas Prompt Rescues

Overview

• About 2.6 million people gathered along Copacabana and Leme as Guinness World Records certified Rio’s réveillon as the largest in the world.
• The fireworks show ran about 12 minutes from 19 barges using more than 12 tonnes of explosives, alongside 70 musical acts across 13 stages citywide.
• A marine storm alert forecast waves up to 2.5 meters, leading to more than 100 water rescues and a reported missing person as officials warned people not to enter the sea.
• Authorities deployed roughly 3,500 military police, 300 camera‑equipped vehicles and 16 checkpoints with metal detectors and facial‑recognition cameras, all feeding real‑time monitoring centers.
• Post‑event travel required a controlled exit: metro boarding by return wristband and all bus departures concentrated at the Terminal Enseada de Botafogo after 9 p.m., with vehicle access to Copacabana closed until early morning.