The grand parades, known as the "desfiles," at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro usually occur on the Sunday and Monday of Carnival week. In 2025, Rio de Janeiro Carnival will take place from February 28th to March 8th. Therefore, the main parades (Special Groups) will take place on Sunday March 2nd and Monday March 3rd. But you can also enjoy Access Group (A Group) parades on February 28th and March 1st, and the Champion’s parade on March 8th. It's important to note that specific dates and schedules for Carnival events can vary from year to year.
Access Group: February 28th and March 1st 2025 (Friday and Saturday)
The Access Group is one tier below the Grupo Especial (Special Group). 16 samba schools in this group aspire to move up to the top tier in future Carnivals. 8 schools parade on Friday and 8 on Saturday. The Access Group competition is highly competitive, and the winning school may earn a spot in the Grupo Especial the following year.
Friday 28th February 2025 Access Group parade schedule: TBC
Saturday 1st March 2025 Access Group parade schedule: TBC
Special Group: March 2nd and 3rd 2025 (Sunday and Monday)
This is the top-tier division, and it features the 12 most well-known and prestigious samba schools in Rio de Janeiro. 6 schools parade on Sunday and 6 on Monday. These schools compete for the title of Carnival champion and often have larger budgets and more elaborate parade presentations.
Sunday 2nd March 2025 parade schedule: TBC
Monday 3rd March 2025 parade schedule: TBC
Ranking and Winner Announcement: March 5th 2025 (Wednesday)
The grades as well as the ranking and the winner of the parade are announced on Wednesday afternoon.
To award grades, 9 criteria are officially defined. Each of them is evaluated by 4 judges, meaning there are 36 judges in total. During the final scoring, the lowest score of the four is not taken into account. During the final scoring, the lowest score of the four is not taken into account.
Here are the 9 official criteria:
1. Floats and accessories
2. Harmony
3. The Announcers / Opening Commission
4. Flow
5. Costumes
6. Plot / theme
7. Samba theme (music and lyrics)
8. Master of Ceremony and Flag Bearer
9. Battery and percussions
There are several official rules:
- The parade duration must be between 65 and 75 minutes per school
- Between 2500 and maximum 4000 participants per school
- At least 200 percussionists
- 70 Bahian women only: men are not allowed for this part of the parade
- The opening committee must include between 10 and 15 participants
- 250 directors per school maximum
- Between 5 and 6 allegorical floats must be presented and among them only one coupled float (double float) maximum
Champion’s Parade: March 8th 2025 (Saturday)
This event is a special showcase of the winning samba school. The Champion's Parade is a festive occasion that allows the winning samba school to celebrate its victory with an encore performance. The atmosphere is one of joy and celebration, as the school and its supporters revel in their success.
In addition to the winning school's performance, the 5 best ranked samba schools from the Grupo Especial will also participate in the Champion's Parade.
The Champion’s Parade will start at 10pm. Each school will parade during 1 hour, letting the show end at 4am.
In summary, the Samba school parades at the Rio Carnival are a dazzling display of artistry and culture, with each school pouring heart and soul into their performances. Navigating this intricate event requires expert guidance, making Travel Experts indispensable in securing the right tickets and ensuring a seamless Carnival experience. Their expertise unlocks the door to this multifaceted celebration, allowing travelers to immerse themselves fully in the complexity and vibrancy of the Rio Carnival.
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