Copacabana Beach is famous for Rio de Janeiro's large New Year's Eve crowd dressed in white.
Rio's Réveillon celebration centers on the broad beach and its shoreline, where millions of people have gathered in some years for concerts, fireworks, and rituals associated with the sea. Wearing white is especially common because it symbolizes peace and is connected with Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, though visitors may choose other colors for personal reasons.
Fireworks are typically launched from boats offshore so that spectators along the beach can see the display. Many participants also make offerings or wishes connected with the ocean, including flowers, while respecting local religious customs.
Ipanema and Leblon are neighboring beaches in Rio and can also attract holiday crowds. The canonical setting for the city's signature New Year's Eve gathering, however, is Copacabana, not one of those adjacent beaches.