Carnival 2026 officially peaks from Friday, February 13 through Tuesday, February 17, 2026 — but Rio starts warming up much earlier. Street Carnival (blocos) is expected to begin as early as January 17, 2026, with weekends of rehearsals, warm-up parades, and “how is it already Carnival?” energy long before the main week.
This guide focuses on what gay travelers actually need: where to stay, how to plan the week, and a day-by-day schedule framework you can use even when individual bloco routes shift at the last minute.
Getting There & Where to Stay
Flights: For flexible comparisons, start with Google Flights or Skyscanner. If you prefer to book direct, check LATAM, GOL, and Azul.
Where to stay: Your neighborhood choice matters more than your hotel rating during Carnival.
- Ipanema = gay beach (Farme de Amoedo) + easiest “gay Rio” base.
- Copacabana = huge volume of hotels + practical for transit + nonstop people-watching.
- Centro / Lapa = closer to many megablocos + late-night chaos (in a good way… if you like chaos).
Two easy Booking.com starting points:
- Browse places to stay in Ipanema (great gay base)
- Browse places to stay in Centro (closer to many bloco hotspots)
For a deeper shortlist, use our full list of gay-friendly places to stay in Rio.
Visa Requirements (Important update for 2026 planning)
As of April 10, 2025, travelers with passports from the United States, Canada, and Australia need a visitor visa to enter Brazil (with an e-visa option for those nationalities).
- Start here (official): Electronic Visitor Visa (e-Visa) info
- e-visa portal referenced by consulates: brazil.vfsevisa.com
If you’re not from one of those countries, rules vary by nationality — always confirm with an official Brazilian consulate page before travel.
Day-by-Day Schedule Framework: Carnival Week 2026
Reality check: bloco routes and start times change. Use this as your plan, then confirm your day’s picks on the official street calendar once it’s published.
Best official place to confirm street bloco details: carnavalderua.rio
Fri, Feb 13 (Carnival Friday) — Warm-up day (but not “calm”)
- Street vibe: smaller-to-mid blocos, neighborhood events, first serious wave of tourists.
- Classic pick to watch for: Bloco das Carmelitas (Santa Teresa) often runs a Friday parade (confirm time/route). Official Instagram
- Night plan: choose one neighborhood and stay there (Ipanema/Copa or Lapa/Centro) instead of zig-zagging the city.
Sat, Feb 14 (Carnival Saturday) — Megabloco day + beach recovery
- Morning: Centro megablocos are typically the most intense early (arrive early, leave early, don’t bring valuables).
- Classic pick to watch for: Cordão da Bola Preta is traditionally a Saturday morning megabloco in Centro (confirm the 2026 listing). Official site
- Afternoon: Ipanema/Copacabana beach + South Zone blocos.
- Gay-friendly watchlist: Banda de Ipanema often lands on the main weekend in Ipanema (confirm exact date/time). Official Instagram
Sun, Feb 15 (Carnival Sunday) — Street + Sambódromo (Grupo Especial Night 1)
- Morning: LGBTQIA+ friendly picks often show up in Flamengo/Ipanema on Sundays (confirm listings).
- Gay-friendly watchlist: Divinas Tretas (Flamengo) has been listed on a Sunday morning in past years. Official Instagram
- Afternoon: South Zone blocos + late lunch + hydrate like it’s your job.
- Night: Sambódromo Grupo Especial Night 1.
Mon, Feb 16 (Carnival Monday) — Sambódromo (Grupo Especial Night 2)
- Daytime: use Monday to pace yourself. Pick one bloco OR the beach — not both — if you’re doing the Sambódromo at night.
- Night: Sambódromo Grupo Especial Night 2.
Tue, Feb 17 (Carnival Tuesday) — The finale + Sambódromo (Grupo Especial Night 3)
- Daytime: this is the “last day so everyone goes harder” day.
- Classic pick to watch for: Bloco das Carmelitas also advertises a Tuesday Carnival parade (confirm time/route). Official Instagram
- Night: Sambódromo Grupo Especial Night 3.
Sat, Feb 21 (Sábado das Campeãs) — Champions Parade
- The top schools return for a final victory lap at the Sambódromo. If you want the Sambódromo experience with a different vibe (more celebration, less judging), this is a strong pick.
Gay Block Parties? LGBTQIA+ Friendly Blocos
Rio’s best gay Carnival moments usually happen at the intersection of: South Zone street parties, Flamengo LGBTQIA+ blocos, and a few classic “everyone is welcome” megablocos where the gay crowd is very present.
See our updated list of Rio’s gay-friendly Carnival blocos »
Travel Tips (Short, real-world)
- Bring a “bloco phone.” Phone theft is common in dense crowds. A backup phone with your apps + a cheap SIM is ideal.
- Use eSIM or buy a local SIM. Popular options include Claro, TIM, and Oi.
- Download offline maps. Crowds + weak signal = lost friends.
- Don’t bring valuables to megablocos. Keep it simple: ID copy, small cash, one card, cheap phone.
- Hydrate + eat. Carnival hangovers are mostly dehydration plus sun plus walking 20,000 steps in flip-flops.
- Choose one neighborhood per night. Your happiest nights happen when you stop trying to “do it all.”
Online Resources During Carnival
- Official street calendar: carnavalderua.rio
- Official Sambódromo schedule (Grupo Especial): LIESA – Horário dos Desfiles
- Our Rio nightlife master list: Gay Bars, Clubs & Parties in Rio (A-to-Z)
- Bookmark this page: vamosgay.com/carnival-rio
Tip: We keep the evergreen structure here, then refresh the week-of links (street calendar + key bloco organizers) as the city publishes the final program.