1. Samba Schools in the Special Group
Sunday, February 14th and Monday, February 15th – See time-table
This is the “THE” Parade, the highlight of the Rio Carnival. The must-see show which has made Rio de Janeiro the Carnival capital of the world. All the Carnival world revolves around these two nights.
The schools belonging to this group are especially magnificent and sumptuous.
The two nights are similar in terms of set-up. 6 of the best 12 samba schools march on both Sunday and Monday. Choose the one which best fits into your schedule. Doors open at 17:00, opening ceremony at 20:00, parades start at 21:00.
Rehearsals – The schools’ 2010 samba songs

2. Champions Parade
Saturday, February 20th – See time-table
Starts at 21:00 but a small Italian school already parades at 20:00
The 6 best samba schools of the Special Group, from Sunday and Monday, parade in all their splendor once more, with fireworks.
{It is beautiful, however much quieter and cheaper than the principal competition days on Sunday and Monday. This is the second best parade.}

3. Samba Schools in the Access Group (Group A)
Saturday, February 13th , starts at 21:00
There are 12 large samba schools in this group, following the best 12 schools in the Special Group. The champion of this parade ascends to the Special Group.

4. Samba Schools in Group “B”
Tuesday, February 16th, starts at 21:00
This is called the base group, from which the big schools originated. They are small, each school having approximately 1,500 participants. Nevertheless they also parade with much vigor to defend their status. {Rather go to the Champions´ Parade or Access Group.}

5. Children’s Samba Schools
Friday, February 12th, 19:00 (doors open at 17:00)
These are branches of the big samba schools, formed by children of each community.
Their parade follows the procedure of the big schools.

Here they are:

1. Enter promo code GIMME10″ and enjoy 10% on your ticket purchase before January 25, 2010.
2. Onsite Customer Service while in Rio through our Hospitality Desk.
3. 24/7 Phone assistance in English and Spanish during Carnival.
4. The best prices available online from an IATAN certified tour operator.
5. Free 2010 Carnival Guide with the full program – to be released mid January 2010.

Brazil Carnival Ticket Availability

just Take me to the carnival ticket Order Form

We have carnival tickets for grandstands (bleachers) as well as for frisas (boxes) on Sectors 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11, for the following dates:

Saturday, February 13th : A-League Parade
The A-League Parade is as great as the Special League, but cheaper. Parade goes from 8PM to 5AM. The two winning schools will be part of the Special League in the following year, so it’s a big competition, almost same level of Special League only for approximately half of the price! If you are not planning to attend a ball that night, get a carnival ticket and enjoy the parade, for less.

Sunday, February 14th : Special League Parade first day
This is the first day of the Special league parade, with 6 schools, parading from 9PM to 5AM. Carnival Tickets for Sunday and Monday are a bit more pricy.

Monday, February 15th : Special League Parade second day
This is the second day of the Special league parade, with 6 schools, parading from 9PM to 5AM.

Saturday, February 20th: Winners’ Parade
Parade from 9PM to 5 AM. The first five qualified schools will parade to celebrate their achievements. This is a great opportunity to watch the show as the schools members are not under any judgment. So it’s really a relaxed and fun party to watch. Plus the carnival ticket is approximately half of those on fierce competition days. We love the Winners’ Parade and we recommend you get your ticket to go see the winners if you are still in town.

Buy Your Tickets Here

Preparations for the big Rio Samba Parade start in the year preceding Carnaval, with each samba school counts with thousands of supporters to make it happen. Months before the parade, a theme is chosen at every samba school. Then, after a fierce competition, the song is picked. Last, the costumes and floats are secretly created by locals inside their communities

The rehearsals take place by beginning of December – three months before the big samba parade – with carnavalescos – the school “architect” – choreographing the dances and the movements. By the same time, samba songs are released, recorded and sent to record stores for the entire population to get familiarized with.

The Special Group is formed by twelve samba schools, with six schools parading in each of the two first nights – Sunday February 14 and Monday February 15. These two parades have a very similar setting and importance. A drawing conducted by the organizers determines which schools parade when.

The winner and 5 runners-up from the Special Group make part of the Winners’ Parade the Saturday after Carnival, February 20 this year.

The Access Group is composed by 12 samba schools, which all of them parading on Saturday February 13. The winner and the runner up are promoted to parade with the Special Group at the following year. The two less qualified also descend to Group B, which parades on Thursday February 12.

Carnivals in any part of the world are all about fun and colors. A Rio carnival is known for its magnificent carnival balls which are an integral part of the celebration. These balls are organized on all days of the carnival and the upcoming one in 2010 also has them scheduled from February 11th. Most of these events are open for both adults and children with exception for few which are meant for the more adventurous kind. Costumes are easily available and though they are not necessitous having one will just add to the fun. The more famous of these is known as the Magic Ball and is held in the Palace Hotel at Copacabana. This is one ball which has guest from world over. This time the Magic Ball will spill its magic on all from 2300 hours on February 13th, 2010.

Mostly all samba schools ranging from the traditional ones to the recently established ones have their carnival balls, which are the best opportunities for all present there to get to see the samba moves and dance to the best samba beats. Scala balls are another famous one where every night is grand carnival party on all days of the Rio carnival. Rio carnival is the best way to witness the magic of samba. So do not forget booking you tickets for the carnival balls when you are in Rio for the carnival.

The samba remains a popular dance not only in carnival but in the ghetto villages outside of the main cities. These villages keep alive the historical aspect of the dance without the influence of the western cultures. Other dances include the lundu, the polka, and the maxixe.