Live from Rio de Janeiro, crowds gather as Cordao da Bola Preta parades through the city during the opening weekend of 2026 Carnival season, on Saturday, February 14.

Rio’s Carnival runs from February 13-18, with hundreds of 'blocos' - or parades - taking place across the city. The celebrations include a three-day samba competition at the Sambadrome.

Cordao da Bola Preta is widely regarded as Rio’s oldest carnival bloco. Founded in 1918, it is a free street party built around live music, where crowds follow performers through the city centre.

It is also one of the largest blocos in Rio, often attracting more than one million people, and is known for its black and white polka dot costumes and traditional Carnival music, including samba and ‘marchinhas’.