Rio de Janeiro's largest traditional New Year's Eve crowds gather at Copacabana Beach.
The celebration, commonly called Réveillon in Brazil, combines a large fireworks display with concerts, waterfront gatherings, and traditions connected to Afro-Brazilian religious practice. Many attendees wear white, a color associated with peace, and some make offerings or prayers connected with Iemanjá, a sea deity honored in Brazilian culture.
Copacabana's broad crescent-shaped beach and famous promenade provide space for enormous public crowds. Fireworks are commonly launched from barges offshore, so the display can be viewed along much of the shoreline. Exact attendance estimates vary substantially by year and by counting method.
Ipanema is another famous Rio beach and may host celebrations, but it is not the standard answer for the city's principal New Year's Eve gathering. The event's scale, music, fireworks, and white clothing make Copacabana one of the best-known New Year destinations in the world.