Rio de Janeiro Prepares for Unofficial Carnival Opening

Rio de Janeiro is set to host the Unofficial Carnival Opening this Sunday with approximately 70 street parties. The weekend also features performances by Mart'nália and exhibitions dedicated to Cartola.

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Quick Summary

1The first weekend of 2026 in Rio de Janeiro maintains a festive atmosphere following the New Year celebrations.
2The main event is the Unofficial Carnival Opening scheduled for Sunday, January 4, which involves approximately 70 street blocks and collectives, primarily performing in the city center.
3A special children's preparation event, 'Aberturinha,' will take place in Flamengo.
4Musical highlights include Mart'nália's show 'Tudão' at Circo Voador on Saturday and a samba session with André Diniz and Nei Lopes at Alfarabi on Sunday.

Quick Summary

The first weekend of 2026 in Rio de Janeiro continues the festive mood with the Unofficial Carnival Opening on Sunday, January 4. This tradition, started in 2009, involves approximately 70 street blocks performing across the city center. A special children's program, 'Aberturinha,' is planned for Flamengo.

Live music highlights include Mart'nália performing 'Tudão' at Circo Voador on Saturday and a samba session featuring André Diniz and Nei Lopes at Alfarabi on Sunday. Cultural activities feature the exhibition 'Alvoradas de Cartola' at the Museu do Samba. The Cordão do Boitatá also begins its pre-Carnival rehearsals on Monday.

Unofficial Carnival Opening and Street Parties

The Unofficial Carnival Opening is confirmed for Sunday, January 4. Initiated in 2009, this event marks the beginning of the street party season in Rio de Janeiro. Approximately 70 blocks and collectives are expected to participate, with the majority presenting or parading in the city center.

The organizers have prepared a specific children's program called 'Aberturinha' to take place in Flamengo. The event is free of charge. The schedule for the day includes numerous blocks with specific start times and locations. The Desliga dos Blocos has provided a detailed list of the participating groups.

Key Schedule for Sunday, January 4:

08:00: Bloco Love Songs (Praça Marechal Âncora)
09:00: O Baile Todo (Armazém Utopia)
10:00: Marimbondo Não Respeita (Armazém Utopia)
11:00: Bloco dos Inconfidentes (Casa Carnaval Rio)
12:00: Calcinhas Bélicas (Praça XV)
13:00: Bloco do Zeca (Praça XV)
14:00: Metaverso (Praça XV)
15:00: Os biquínis de Ogodô convidam as sungas de Odara (Praça XV)
16:00: Bloco do MST (Glorioso Cultural)
17:00: Só Toca Bloco (Praça XV)

Additionally, blocks with parades (cortejo) are scheduled throughout the day, including Bloco da Frida at 08:00 at Pira Olímpica and Banheira do Gugu at 10:00 at the same location. The 'Aberturinha' children's programming runs from 09:00 to 12:00 at Aterro do Flamengo, featuring popular games and storytelling.

Live Music and Performances

The weekend offers a variety of paid and free musical events. Mart'nália kicks off the summer programming at Circo Voador on Saturday, January 3, with the show 'Tudão da Mart'nália'. The repertoire mixes 90s pagode, career hits, and recent collaborations. Doors open at 20:00, and tickets start at R$ 90.

On Sunday, January 4, André Diniz hosts a samba session at Alfarabi starting at 14:00. The event features master Nei Lopes and is free, with support expected for the bar. Also on Sunday, the Cordão do Boitatá opens its pre-Carnival rehearsal season at the Cordão da Bola Preta headquarters. The rehearsal begins at 19:00 on Monday, January 5, with tickets costing R$ 30 in advance and R$ 40 at the door.

Other notable performances include:

Roberto Menescal & Theo Bial: Presenting 'A nossa Bossa' at Blue Note Rio on January 3 at 20:00 and 22:30. The repertoire includes classics like 'O barquinho'.
Melodia com Mazzer: A tribute to Luiz Melodia at Manouche on January 7 at 20:30.
Casa de Marimbondo: A samba circle at Praça da Harmonia on January 3 starting at 19:30 (free entry).

The theater musical 'Deixa Clarear' returns to Teatro Rival Petrobras on January 3 at 19:30, featuring Clara Santhana as Clara Nunes.

Cultural Exhibitions

For those interested in cultural exhibitions, the Museu do Samba in Mangueira is hosting 'Alvoradas de Cartola'. This exhibition offers an intimate look at the life and work of Cartola, featuring over 100 items including personal objects, manuscripts, rare photos, and audiovisual material. Curated by Nilcemar Nogueira, the show also includes installations honoring Cartola and Dona Zica. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, with tickets priced at R$ 20 (full) and R$ 10 (half).

Separately, the interactive and free exhibition 'Viva Mauricio – Mauricio de Sousa, a Experiência Imersiva' continues at the CCBB-Rio until April 13, 2026. The exhibition celebrates the work of Maurício de Sousa, recreating scenarios from the fictional Bairro do Limoeiro. It is open Wednesday through Monday from 09:00 to 19:00.