Every year, thousands of foreigners do something most visitors never imagine is possible: instead of watching Rio Carnival from the stands, they put on a full costume and parade down the Sambadrome avenue with a real Samba School, in front of 70,000 people and a TV audience of millions.
You do not need to dance well. You do not need to speak Portuguese. You need a costume, a place in a school's wing, and a bit of preparation. This guide covers all of it.
What "parading" actually means
Each Samba School (escola de samba) presents a themed parade of roughly 60 to 70 minutes with around 3,000 participants, organised in groups called wings (alas). Every wing wears one costume design that illustrates part of the school's story, and walks the 700-metre avenue of the Sambadrome singing the school's samba, between the floats and the drum section.
Most wings are filled by the school's community. A number of wings, however, are open to anyone who buys a costume, and that is where international visitors join. You parade as a full member of the school, in the same costume as everyone else in your wing, not as a spectator on a float.
Who can parade
- Adults of any nationality. Some schools accept teenagers with a guardian; children's wings exist in a few schools.
- No dance experience required. In the open wings you walk, move to the rhythm and sing; the choreographed sections are performed by the school's own dancers.
- Reasonable fitness. You will be standing and walking for several hours at night in summer heat, often with a heavy headpiece.
- Couples, friends and groups can usually be placed in the same wing if booked together.
The costume
The costume (fantasia) is the ticket. When you book a place in a wing, you are buying that wing's costume, which the school produces during the year for that single night. It typically includes the headpiece, the body piece, accessories and often the footwear or instructions on what footwear to wear. Costumes are made in standard size ranges and adjusted on pickup; tell us your measurements when you book.
Costumes are collected in Rio de Janeiro, usually in the days before the parade, at the school's headquarters or a designated pickup point. Pickup assistance and transport are part of what we coordinate. You cannot receive the costume abroad, so plan to be in Rio at least two days before your parade night.
Rehearsals: helpful, not mandatory
Samba Schools rehearse for months, but the open wings do not require attendance. If you arrive early, two things are worth doing:
- Learn the samba-enredo. Each school releases its song months in advance. Knowing the chorus makes the parade far more fun and the judges score "harmony", so singing matters.
- Attend a technical rehearsal at the Sambadrome. They take place on weekends in January and early February, are free, and let you see the avenue before your night.
Parade night, hour by hour
- Early evening. You get dressed at your hotel or at a meeting point, depending on the costume size. Eat before; you will not have a chance later.
- Around 2 hours before your school's slot. Arrive at the concentration area (concentração) at the start of the avenue. Your wing has a coordinator who lines everyone up and checks costumes.
- Your school is called. Fireworks, the opening section enters, and the wings move forward in order. The 700 metres take roughly 60 to 70 minutes at a slow, steady pace.
- Dispersal. At the end of the avenue (Praça da Apoteose) costumes are removed and larger pieces are returned; you keep what the school allows. From here you can go home or, with a ticket, watch the remaining schools from the stands.
Special Group nights start around 9 or 10 pm and the last school finishes around dawn. Your exact time depends on the running order, which LIESA publishes in advance.
Rules that surprise first-timers
- Wear the full costume, exactly as designed. Judges deduct points for wings that look incomplete.
- Keep your place in the wing and keep moving; gaps in the parade cost the school points.
- Sing. Phones are usually tolerated in the open wings, but filming the whole way is discouraged.
- Alcohol: a drink is fine, drunk participants are removed by the school.
When to book for Carnival 2027
Carnival 2027 runs from 5 to 13 February 2027. Costumes in the most popular Special Group schools sell out between November and January. Booking from October to December gives you the widest choice of schools, wings and sizes; in late January there is usually still availability, but fewer options.
Prices depend on the school, the wing and the costume complexity, so we quote each request individually. Flights and hotels are the other thing to lock early: Carnival is the peak week of the year in Rio.
What we handle for you
Choosing a school and wing that fits your group and dates, reserving the costumes, the costume pickup, pre-parade instructions in English, and the logistics on the night. From your first inquiry to the moment you walk into the concentration area, you have someone to ask.
Frequently asked questions
Can tourists really parade at the Rio Sambadrome?
Yes. Several wings in each Samba School are open to anyone who buys that wing's costume. International visitors parade every year in both the Special Group and the Série Ouro.
Do I need to know how to samba?
No. In the open wings you walk in formation, move to the rhythm and sing the chorus. The choreography is performed by the school's trained sections.
How long is the parade?
Each school has roughly 60 to 70 minutes on the avenue, but count on four to five hours in total between arriving at the concentration area and dispersing at the end.
What is included with the costume?
The complete wing costume: headpiece, body piece and accessories, usually with footwear or a footwear specification. Exact inclusions vary by school and are confirmed in writing before you pay.
When should I arrive in Rio?
At least two days before your parade night, so you can collect and try the costume. Arriving earlier lets you attend a technical rehearsal and enjoy the street blocos.
Can I watch the other schools after I parade?
Only with a separate ticket for the grandstands or a frisa. Many of our guests combine a parade on one night with tickets on another, so they experience both sides.
Information in this guide reflects recent Rio Carnival editions and the published 2027 calendar. Parade dates, running order and Samba School rules are set by LIESA and the schools and can change; everything is confirmed in writing when you book.
