Rio Opens 2026 Street Carnival With 462 Street Parades and Expanded Security

Overview

• Riotur’s official calendar runs from January 17 to February 22 with 462 block parades citywide and an expected turnout of more than 6 million people.
• Economic activity tied to the street Carnival is projected by Riotur to exceed R$ 5.7 billion.
• Ten megablocos concentrated on Rua Primeiro de Março include Cordão da Bola Preta (estimated 700,000), Fervo da Lud (about 600,000), Bloco da Anitta, and Ivete Sangalo’s debut leading SeráQAbre?.
• The security plan mobilizes over 4,000 Military Police with about 500 vehicles, aerial monitoring, camera-equipped patrol cars integrated to facial recognition on the Circuito, plus 1,100 municipal agents and screening points to block glass and sharp objects.
• City services include 34,000 bathroom positions, extensive fencing, seven pre-hospital posts, and dedicated teams to assist women after a reported 275% rise in harassment cases last year.