Copacabana Beach is famous for Rio de Janeiro’s large New Year's Eve fireworks display.
The celebration, commonly called Réveillon de Copacabana, draws enormous crowds to the beach and its surrounding neighborhood. Fireworks are launched from barges offshore, allowing spectators along the crescent-shaped shoreline to see the display over the Atlantic Ocean.
Many attendees wear white, a color traditionally associated with peace and renewal. The celebration also reflects Afro-Brazilian and Brazilian coastal traditions, including offerings to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea in Candomblé and related religious practices. These customs vary among participants and communities.
Copacabana’s event is often described as one of the world’s largest New Year's celebrations, though crowd estimates can vary by year and counting method. It should not be confused with Ipanema, another famous Rio beach located nearby but distinct from Copacabana.