So When is Rio Carnival? Rio Carnival (or Brazil Carnival in general) is an annual event that always begins on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, and officially lasts for five days. (ending on Ash Wednesday)
The dates of the Brazil Carnival change every year because they are determined by the Catholic liturgical calendar. The Carnival is always celebrated on seven Sundays before the Sunday of Easter. This is because the original reason for celebrating Carnival is to eat, drink, and be merry before Lent. Since the dates of Lent change every year, as do the dates of Carnival. The dates of Carnival can fall any time between February and March.
By searching “When is Rio Carnival” online, you may see dates ending on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday. This is because of the Winners’ Parade, also known as the Champion’s Parade. It is a special event that takes place on Saturday following the main Carnival celebrations. This parade features the top six Samba Schools from the Special Group – the big Champion and the five runners-up.
Now, this is where the confusion and misconception start, by looking at the title Winners’ Parade, people (meaning foreigners) somehow think that this is “the main event” which is NOT. This following Saturday parade is a RE-RUN. The Winners have been announced and selected! And since it’s a re-run, the parade itself is less exciting with a smaller crowd, less performers, and no judges.
It is not as vibrant as the actual competition which takes place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights of Carnival. A good example of this is comparing the Super Bowl to the Pro Ball or the NBA Finals to the All-Star Game. If you can’t travel for the original dates of Carnival (Friday – Wednesday), then the Winner’s Parade is a great alternative and we can provide you with an individual customized package for it.
Just keep in mind that a lot of the other Carnival Events like the Street Parties and Exclusive Carnival Themed Parties will already be over after Ash Wednesday. For most Brazilians, life goes back to normal as the Brazil Carnival Holiday is over and they must go back to work. If you are looking to experience everything that Rio Carnival has to offer, we recommend traveling for the actual dates of carnival.
When is Rio Carnival? Dates through 2035:
- 2025: February 28 – March 5
- 2026: February 13 – 18
- 2027: February 5 – 10
- 2028: February 25 – March 1
- 2029: February 9 -14
- 2030: March 1 – 6
- 2031: February 21 – 26
- 2032: February 06 – 11
- 2033: February 25 – March 02
- 2034: February 17 – 22
- 2035: February 02 – 07