The drumbeats have finally faded at the Marquês de Sapucaí, bringing the competitive phase of the Rio Carnival 2026 to a dazzling close. Over two marathon nights of spectacle, the twelve elite schools of the "Special Group" transformed the Sambadrome into a riot of colour.
Later on Wednesday (18 February), the complex scoring by 36 judges will be read out at the Apoteose Square to crown the 2026 Carnival Grand Champion.
The champions' parade will be held on 21 February.
While the street parties (blocos) continue to pulse through Ipanema and Copacabana, the focus shifts to the technical verdict that will decide which community takes the coveted trophy back to the favelas.
For Brazilians and visitors, the street partying is an event not to be missed.
Local resident Telma Peori said, “We’re here fulfilling a dream: enjoying the Banda de Ipanema (Ipanema Band). The whole world is in Brazil. It’s sensational, it’s wonderful.”
Banda de Ipanema Drummer, Marcos Vinicius Santos Penha said taking part in the party is fun.
“I come from the age of tin percussion. I learned to play with a can, nobody taught me. It’s a gift that comes from my family, my father, you know? I have music in my blood. So to me, it’s very pleasing - I have fun and I also entertain others,” Marcos said.
Business woman, Luene Luciana said each year the party fun atmosphere is just a great way to make new friends.
"Carnival is a season to make friends because people get along well with each other and have fun, joke, make friends, so to me, it's wonderful."
Founded in 1965, the band is one of the classics of Rio's street Carnival and became an intangible cultural heritage of the city in 2004, according to Brazilian media.
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The drumbeats have finally faded at the Marquês de Sapucaí, bringing the competitive phase of the Rio Carnival 2026 to a dazzling close. Over two ma...
Millions of Muslims around the world have begun observing Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and the most sacred period in Islam.
Qarabağ FK will face Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League play-off round on Wednesday evening in Baku, in what will be the first UEFA competition meeting between the two clubs.
Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify in a high-profile trial in Los Angeles examining claims that the company’s platforms contributed to youth addiction and mental health harm.
Japan’s parliament has reappointed Sanae Takaichi as the country’s 105th prime minister ten days after a snap general election that handed her party a decisive two-thirds majority in the lower house.
Cuba’s fuel crisis has turned into a waste crisis, with rubbish piling up on most street corners in Havana as many collection trucks lack enough petrol to operate.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy held military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday (16 February), state-linked media reported. The drill took place a day before renewed nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Geneva.
Ruben Vardanyan has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Baku Military Court after being found guilty of a series of offences including war crimes, terrorism and crimes against humanity.
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced on 16 February that the Honourable Janice Charette has been appointed as the next Chief Trade Negotiator to the United States. She's been tasked with overseeing the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The Pentagon has threatened to designate artificial intelligence firm Anthropic as a “supply chain risk” amid a dispute over the military use of its Claude AI model, according to a report published Monday.
Millions of Muslims around the world have begun observing Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and the most sacred period in Islam.
Qarabağ FK will face Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League play-off round on Wednesday evening in Baku, in what will be the first UEFA competition meeting between the two clubs.
Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify in a high-profile trial in Los Angeles examining claims that the company’s platforms contributed to youth addiction and mental health harm.
Japan’s parliament has reappointed Sanae Takaichi as the country’s 105th prime minister ten days after a snap general election that handed her party a decisive two-thirds majority in the lower house.
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