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2026 Guide to Rio’s Gay-Friendly Blocos
Rio Carnival isn’t one event — it’s a whole season. The ticketed spectacle is the Sambódromo, but the heart of Carnival is the blocos: free street parades that take over neighborhoods with bands, drums, costumes, and very little respect for your sleep schedule.
Carnival 2026: dates + how this page works
- Street Carnival season begins: January 17, 2026 (pre-Carnival weekends start early).
- Carnival peak week: the main stretch centers on Feb 13–17, 2026.
- Sambódromo Grupo Especial: Feb 15–17, 2026 (three nights).
Important: bloco dates, start times, and routes can change (sometimes last-minute). Use this page as your curated shortlist, then confirm details closer to Carnival:
- Official street Carnival calendar: carnavalderua.rio
- Organizer links: each bloco’s official Instagram (listed below)
The essential gay-friendly & LGBTQIA+ blocos
Banda de Ipanema (Ipanema) — the classic
If you want one bloco that screams “gay Rio Carnival,” this is the one. Drag energy, costumes, beach heat, and a crowd that knows exactly why they came.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/bandadeipanema
Where to stay (walkable base): We recommend Sol Ipanema Hotel if you want to stay on the Ipanema beachfront near Posto 9, with a straightforward walk to the Banda de Ipanema concentration area (and easy access to Farme de Amoedo).
Simpatia é Quase Amor (Ipanema) — big Ipanema crowd, always fun
Not strictly a “gay bloco,” but consistently gay-friendly by default. Great costumes, great energy, and a crowd that feels very Ipanema.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/simpatia_equaseamor
Banda das Quengas (Lapa/Centro) — proudly queer + proudly chaotic
A classic LGBTQIA+ street party moment. Expect packed streets, marching-band energy, and a very Lapa sense of humor.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/bandadasquengas
Toco Xona (Flamengo) — queer crowd, pop-forward vibe
One of the strongest explicitly LGBTQIA+ options: friendly crowd, lots of costumes, and a vibe that tends to skew stylish and very online.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/tocoxona
Divinas Tretas (Flamengo) — LGBTQIA+ bloco with a loyal crowd
A real community bloco with big queer energy. Great choice if you want something clearly LGBTQIA+ without needing to chase megabloco chaos downtown.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/divinas.tretas
V de Viadão (Centro) — new-school queer chaos
Newer, louder, and very “internet gay.” If your Carnival taste is pop chaos more than marchinhas, keep this on your radar.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/vdeviadao
Sereias da Guanabara (Centro) — the queer mermaid one
Exactly what it sounds like: costumes, glitter, and a crowd that reliably includes a lot of LGBTQIA+ folks. Fun, silly, and surprisingly iconic.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/sereiasdaguanabara
Agytoê (Centro) — queer-friendly downtown energy
A name that shows up often in LGBTQ+ Carnival roundups. If you’re staying downtown and want something that feels very “street Carnival,” this is one to watch.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/blocoagytoe
Megablocos in Centro (huge crowds — plan accordingly)
Centro megablocos are officially organized and absolutely massive. They can be a highlight — just don’t bring valuables and don’t expect an easy meetup if your group scatters.
Chá da Alice (Centro) — big pop energy, big gay presence
One of the most popular megablocos for a reason: pop culture energy, a very mixed crowd, and plenty of gay presence.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/chadaalice
Fervo da Lud (Centro) — headline-level street party
Ludmilla’s Carnival universe is always a major draw. If you want a “this feels like a concert on the street” moment, this is usually it.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/fervodalud
Monobloco (Centro) — percussion on steroids
One of the biggest traditional megablocos — drums, singalongs, and a crowd that feels endless.
Follow for 2026 date/time: instagram.com/monobloco
Cordão da Bola Preta (Centro) — the legend
The classic giant. If you want the most traditional “Rio street Carnival” experience with a truly massive crowd, this is the anchor.
Official site: bolapreta.com.br
Where to stay (short walk to Centro + Lapa nights): We recommend Hotel Atlântico Business Centro if you want a practical downtown base with easy walking access toward Cinelândia/Lapa and quick transit to the megabloco zones.
Bloco da Preta (Preta Gil) ❤️
Bloco da Preta was never “just a bloco.” It felt like Rio at its best: massive crowd, huge music, inclusive joy, and the kind of energy that turns strangers into friends for an afternoon.
In 2025, we lost Preta Gil. Rio has been honoring her openly, and the city has even named the Centro megabloco route the “Circuito Preta Gil.” For Carnival 2026, the expectation is that her namesake bloco returns in tribute form — with homenagens and an emotional “we’re really doing this without her” moment. As soon as the official calendar locks the date/route, we’ll update it here.
Follow for official updates: instagram.com/blocodapreta
Quick “typical week” pattern (confirm the 2026 calendar)
Not a promise — a practical framework. These are the days these blocos often land, but you must confirm the 2026 schedule before you go:
- Friday: Downtown warm-ups + smaller neighborhood blocos
- Saturday: Big street day (Ipanema + Centro)
- Sunday: Another big street day (often Ipanema/Flamengo favorites)
- Monday: Megablocos and big “headline” days
- Tuesday: The emotional finale (some of the best LGBTQIA+ energy lives here)
After the bloco
Street Carnival is fun. Street Carnival also makes you crave air conditioning and a bathroom. When you’re done, start with the full A-to-Z list:
