The 2027 Calendar
Carnival in Brazil 2027
The main Carnival days run from Friday 5 to Tuesday 9 February 2027, with Ash Wednesday on 10 February. Here is the full calendar, a live countdown and the city-by-city schedule.
Countdown to Carnival 2027
Until Carnival Friday, 5 February 2027
Key dates at a glance
The six days that frame the 2027 celebration.
Street blocos and warm-up parties build across the country.
Recife's Galo da Madrugada and big-city blocos hit full volume.
Rio's Grupo Especial samba schools begin their Sambadrome nights.
Parades and street circuits run deep into the night.
The climax of Carnival before the celebrations wind down.
The official close of Carnival and the start of Lent.
City-by-city schedule
Each city runs Carnival its own way. Official parade times are confirmed closer to the date, but the pattern below holds year to year.
Rio de Janeiro
- ◆Grupo Especial samba schools traditionally parade at the Sambadrome on the Sunday and Monday nights (7 to 8 February).
- ◆The Desfile das Campeãs, the Parade of Champions, is traditionally held the following Saturday for the top-scoring schools.
- ◆Free street blocos run across the city for weeks around the main dates.
São Paulo
- ◆The city's Grupo Especial schools parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome across the main Carnival weekend.
- ◆Hundreds of free blocos de rua spread through neighborhoods such as Vila Madalena, Pinheiros and downtown.
- ◆Street events often begin in January and continue after Ash Wednesday.
Salvador
- ◆Street Carnival runs continuously day and night along the Barra-Ondina, Campo Grande and Pelourinho circuits.
- ◆Trio elétrico trucks and blocos keep the circuits active from the opening weekend through Fat Tuesday.
- ◆The Pelourinho circuit favours more traditional, acoustic performances in the historic centre.
Recife & Olinda
- ◆Galo da Madrugada traditionally parades through central Recife on Carnival Saturday (6 February).
- ◆Olinda's giant puppets, including O Homem da Meia-Noite, process through the colonial old town.
- ◆Everything is street-based and free, with frevo and maracatu across both cities.
Why Carnival dates change each year
Carnival has no fixed calendar date. It is tied to the Christian liturgical calendar and falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, ending on the eve of Ash Wednesday, which opens the season of Lent. Because Easter itself moves each year, Carnival shifts with it, landing anywhere from early February to early March. In 2027 that places Fat Tuesday on 9 February and Ash Wednesday on 10 February.
Frequently asked questions
When is Carnival in Brazil in 2027?+
The main Carnival days in 2027 run from Friday 5 February to Tuesday 9 February, with Ash Wednesday on 10 February marking the official end of the festivities.
What day is Fat Tuesday in 2027?+
Fat Tuesday, the climax of Carnival, falls on 9 February 2027. Ash Wednesday follows on 10 February.
Why do the Carnival dates change every year?+
Carnival is tied to the Christian liturgical calendar and falls 47 days before Easter Sunday. Because Easter moves each year, so does Carnival, which is why the dates shift annually.
How long does Brazilian Carnival last?+
The core celebration runs over roughly five days from Carnival Friday to Fat Tuesday, but many cities hold warm-up blocos and pre-Carnival events in the weeks before, and some street parties continue after Ash Wednesday.
When do the Rio samba schools parade in 2027?+
Rio's top-tier Grupo Especial schools traditionally parade at the Sambadrome on the Sunday and Monday nights of Carnival, with the Parade of Champions held the following Saturday. Official schedules are confirmed closer to the date.
Keep exploring Carnival