What is the Rio Carnival Ball?
The Rio de Janeiro Carnival Ball is simply a Carnival themed Party that features live Brazilian Carnival entertainment such as the drummers/dancers from a Samba School and live music.
What are the most famous of these Rio de Janeiro Carnival Balls?
The most famous balls were the Scala Balls and the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace. The Scala Balls were held nightly during carnival in downtown Rio and featured different themes nightly, including the famous Gay Ball on Tuesday night. Even though the Scala Balls were the most known, they were discontinued prior to the Pandemic. At this time it is not known if they will return as they were already in decline.
The Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace is the most famous Rio Carnival Ball. This is the ONLY party or ball that is upscale and is a black tie affair and the type of ball where famous actors, dignitaries and celebrities attend and features a quite mature and sophisticated crowd.
We can provide the Copacabana Palace Tickets for the Ball as an add-on without a problem but do not include it as a party option with our packages as the tickets usually range from about US$750 to over $1,500USD per person (depending on seating type). If you require pricing for the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace in Rio, please let us know. Pricing usually is released after July of each year but varies. Keep in mind that we only provide this option for clients booking their packages with us.
What is the background behind Rio de Janeiro Carnival Balls?
Carnival balls originated in Venice, Italy, and were elegant and extravagant events where people would wear masks and party until the wee hours of the morning before the start of Lent (Ash Wednesday). The tradition spread around the world and to Rio when certain hotels and some private locations began hosting events mimicking Venice Carnival Balls. The tradition stuck and there are still Carnival Balls in Rio de Janeiro but now with a Brazilian twist with Samba dancers and the like.
Are Carnival Balls Elegant events where you must dress up?
Not so much. Carnival balls throughout the years have evolved quite a bit and now the ONLY Ball that is luxurious, upscale, and a truly elegant “Ball” is the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace as mentioned above. Other Balls such as Scala, Devassa (also discontinued), and others were much less formal and there is NO need to dress up in a fancy dress.
Do you offer Scala Balls or include them as part of your Events?
The Scala balls were discontinued. Prior to their cancellation, Â they were frequented almost exclusively by tourists who have heard of these Scala Balls online and NOT BY LOCALS. For this reason, we did not recommend these balls and would provide other Rio Carnival parties frequented to LOCALSÂ from Brazil. In past years we have offered Devassa Balls, which were very good events and more frequented by LOCALS, but they were discontinued in 2015 .
Do you include The Magic Ball as one of your events?
The Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel is an amazing and exclusive black-tie affair where celebrities, famous Brazilians, businessmen and the like attend every year. The Ball is held on Saturday of Carnival and is quite expensive. The tickets, to give you an idea, start at about $750USD and for this reason, we do NOT include them in our base package events. If you would like to attend the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace we can DEFINITELY provide you with tickets for the Copacabana Palace Magic Ball for 2025.
Will TGW take me to a Carnival Ball with my package?
Typically YES! We try to include one ball every year but as mentioned before NOT Scala or Copacabana Palace Magic Ball. In past Carnivals, for example, we took the group to an amazing masquerade ball on top of the Sugarloaf Mountain including guides, and tables/bottle service, while we have also taken clients to Carnival themed parties during the day/afternoons at private lounges with food and drinks and live samba dancers.
If you have any further questions about Carnival Balls in Rio or would like package pricing, please click HERE.