Rio Carnaval Fan Fest Opens in Copacabana With Guinness Record for Largest Samba Battery

Overview

• Guinness adjudicators confirmed a new record as 1,243 percussionists performed under Neguinho da Beija-Flor, who led classics in a 20-minute presentation and received an on-site plaque.
• Liesa launched the first Fan Fest on Copacabana beach to recreate the Marquês de Sapucaí experience for the general public and visiting tourists.
• The program spans 18 dates through February 21 with headline shows, rodas de samba, workshops, and live screenings on official parade days.
• Admission is free via the Rio Carnaval app with facial-recognition registration, limited to one ticket per CPF per day, and capacity is set at 15,000 people daily.
• Produced by SRCOM under scenographer Abel Gomes, the event offers AI, augmented and virtual reality installations that simulate parade roles, and the record presentation was backed by a betting-company partnership.