Rio de Janeiro Events

One of the biggest events in the Brazilian fashion calendar is Fashion Rio, featuring major Brazilian designers as well as some of the most exciting emerging young talent.

This is a New World twist on an old European tradition. In Mediterranean countries, the Fiesta de San Juan (Saint John) falls on the summer solstice, and is celebrated with bonfires. The party city of Rio extends this June festival to include Saint Anthony and Saint Peter as well. On three separate evenings, in private homes and clubs right across Rio, in the streets, squares and public places, stalls are set out to resemble village market places and are decorated with streamers and lanterns. Against the glow of bonfires there is much dancing, eating and drinking. In mock weddings, couples follow the old tradition of leaping the flames. All this takes place against a fairly continuous crackle and flash of fireworks.

The annual, three-day Brazilian Grand Prix Horse Race takes place at the Gavea Hippodrome in Rio de Janeiro. The highlight of this top event is the Grand Prix on the second day.

The Rio de Janeiro Pride is one of the biggest gay prides in the world, with more than two million people taking part.

Outdoor concerts, parties and fireworks in the wonderful settings of Copacabana Beach.

Simply the world's greatest party, the annual carnival in Rio de Janeiro is one of the wildest urban extravaganzas on the planet. The main party scene in the Cidade Nova district comes alive with a riot of colour, outlandish floats and throngs of gyrating dancers; all shaking to intoxicating samba rhythms. Rio's carnival starts on Saturday and ends on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. The various districts of the city or 'Samba Schools' compete to see which can parade the best, loudest, most over-the-top series of floats carrying bands and accompanied alongside by dancers and other performers. Before, during and after the main parades (held on Sunday and Monday), there are many other events across the city, including music shows, carnival balls and separate parades for the lesser samba schools.

At the start of Holy Week there are religious processions, ceremonies and masses held all over Brazil, and especially in Rio. One of the biggest ceremonies takes place at San Sebastian Cathedral with a commemorative liturgy celebrating the passion and death of Christ. Afterwards there is a procession of the Dead Lord accompanied by the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, bearing a fragment of the Holy Cross. The Church of Our Lady of Copacabana also conducts a procession, with drummers and participants dressed as Roman soldiers.