Rio de Janeiro’s major New Year’s Eve celebration is held at Copacabana Beach.
The event, commonly called Réveillon in Brazil, attracts enormous crowds along the Copacabana waterfront. Celebrations include live music, religious and cultural traditions, and a large fireworks display launched from barges offshore. Many participants wear white, a color associated with peace and renewal.
Copacabana is one of Rio’s best-known beaches and lies in the South Zone of the city. It is distinct from nearby Ipanema and Leblon beaches, which are also famous but are not the name used for the principal New Year’s Eve venue. The celebration’s beachfront setting is central to its identity.