Rio Carnival 2027: the Special Group samba school parades at the Sambódromo are on February 7, 8 and 9, 2027, and the Champions Parade is on Saturday, February 13 (LIESA). Santa Cruz de Tenerife moved its 2027 carnival two weeks later: the official program opens January 22, and the street carnival runs February 19–28 (Santa Cruz City Council).
Carnival Tuesday falls on February 9, 2027 (the day before Ash Wednesday, February 10), which is Rio's last Special Group night. In Tenerife, the big Coso parade is on the city's own carnival Tuesday, February 23.
Key 2027 dates (official)
| City | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Rio | Série Ouro parades (second division) | Fri Feb 5 – Sat Feb 6 |
| Rio | Special Group parades, Sambódromo | Sun Feb 7, Mon Feb 8, Tue Feb 9 |
| Rio | Champions Parade (Sábado das Campeãs) | Sat Feb 13 |
| Tenerife | Opening gala | Fri Jan 22 |
| Tenerife | Carnival Queen election gala | Wed Feb 17 |
| Tenerife | Announcement parade (Cabalgata Anunciadora) + first night of street dances | Fri Feb 19 |
| Tenerife | Ritmo y Armonía (comparsas) | Sat Feb 20 |
| Tenerife | First Daytime Carnival (Carnaval de Día) | Sun Feb 21 |
| Tenerife | Coso Apoteosis parade | Tue Feb 23 |
| Tenerife | Second Daytime Carnival | Sat Feb 27 |
| Tenerife | Closing and fireworks | Sun Feb 28 |
Because Tenerife's street carnival comes after Rio's, you can do both in the same season.
Rio de Janeiro: 5-day itinerary (Feb 5–9, 2027)
Arrive and Série Ouro
Settle in, then head to the Sambódromo (Marquês de Sapucaí) for the first Série Ouro night.
Beach and second Série Ouro night
Spend the day at the beach and the evening back at the Sambódromo, or join one of the street blocos (the 2027 bloco schedule hasn't been published by the city yet).
Special Group night 1
Rest during the day; parades run late into the night. Order (LIESA draw): União de Maricá, Beija-Flor, Paraíso do Tuiuti, Vila Isabel.
Special Group night 2
Mocidade, Unidos da Tijuca, Salgueiro, Imperatriz Leopoldinense.
Special Group night 3 (Carnival Tuesday)
Portela, Viradouro (defending champion), Grande Rio and Mangueira close the competition. If you can stay, return on Saturday, February 13 for the Champions Parade.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 5-day itinerary (Feb 19–23, 2027)
Cabalgata Anunciadora
The announcement parade, the float contest and the first night of street dances.
Ritmo y Armonía
Watch the comparsas compete on the street, then join the Saturday night dances.
First Daytime Carnival
The family-friendly Carnaval de Día, plus the traditional Fufa and Los Fregolinos concert.
Dragnaval
The 4th Dragnaval gala and one of the busiest street nights of the week.
Coso Apoteosis
The grand parade through the city on carnival Tuesday. Stay longer for the Coso Infantil (Fri Feb 26) and the second Daytime Carnival (Sat Feb 27).
Practical tips
- Book flights and hotels early: both cities fill up on carnival dates.
- Rio tickets: buy only through the official channel (see FAQ). LIESA warns that it never sells through WhatsApp, direct messages or third-party links.
- Getting around: expect street closures around the Sambódromo and in central Santa Cruz on parade nights; plan rides home in advance.
- Basic safety: carry only what you need, keep your phone secure in crowds and agree on a meeting point.
- Tenerife's dates differ from the calendar: don't assume its carnival Tuesday is February 9 — in 2027 it's February 23.
FAQ
What are the official carnival dates in Rio and Tenerife?
In Rio, the Special Group parades at the Sambódromo are on February 7, 8 and 9, 2027, with the Champions Parade on February 13 (LIESA). In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the program opens January 22 and the street carnival runs February 19–28, with the Coso parade on February 23 (Santa Cruz City Council).
How do you get Sambódromo tickets?
LIESA sells Rio Carnival 2027 tickets exclusively through Ticketmaster Brazil (ticketmaster.com.br/event/riocarnaval), in several sales phases. Tickets are digital only, with no paper version. LIESA never sells through WhatsApp or links sent by third parties, and warns that resale sites offering sectors 12 and 13 are likely scams. Source: LIESA.
When should you book?
Book as soon as your dates are fixed. Rio's ticket sales for 2027 began on March 9, 2026, and several phases have already taken place, with popular sectors 12 and 13 still to be announced by LIESA. In Tenerife, hotels for February 19–28 fill quickly. Source: LIESA, Santa Cruz City Council.
Why is Tenerife's carnival later than Rio's in 2027?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council decided to delay its 2027 street carnival by two weeks for operational and logistical reasons. Instead of following carnival Tuesday on February 9, the big week runs February 19–28, with the Coso Apoteosis on Tuesday, February 23. That gap lets travelers attend both carnivals. Source: Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council.
Plan your carnival trip
Turn these dates into a day-by-day trip for Rio, Tenerife or both with the free AI trip planner from Lets2Go. Take your plan along on the App Store or Google Play.
Sources
- LIESA, Carnaval 2027 dates: https://liesa.org.br/carnaval/
- LIESA, ticket FAQ 2027: https://liesa.org.br/noticias/260818-faq-ingressoss.html
- LIESA, September 2026 ticket phase: https://liesa.org.br/noticias/260909-ingressos.html
- Official ticket channel (Ticketmaster Brazil): https://www.ticketmaster.com.br/event/riocarnaval
- Agência Brasil (public news agency), 2027 Special Group parade order: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/cultura/noticia/2026-04/carnaval-2027-veja-a-ordem-dos-desfiles-das-escolas-de-samba-do-rio
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, official Carnival 2027 program: https://www.santacruzdetenerife.es/web/noticias-y-agenda/noticias/detalle-noticia/santa-cruz-presenta-el-programa-oficial-de-los-concursos-galas-y-actos-del-carnaval-2027
- Carnaval de Tenerife (official), program: https://carnavaldetenerife.com/programa-carnaval/
- Carnival Tuesday 2027 ("terça de Carnaval", LIESA ticket FAQ): https://liesa.org.br/noticias/260818-faq-ingressoss.html
