On which beach do large crowds gather for New Year's Eve fireworks in Rio de Janeiro?

Large crowds gather on Copacabana Beach for Rio de Janeiro's famous New Year's Eve fireworks.

Rio de Janeiro's Réveillon celebration is centered on the broad waterfront of Copacabana, one of the city's best-known beaches. People commonly dress in white, a color associated with peace and good wishes, and many make offerings or perform traditions connected with Afro-Brazilian religions. Fireworks are launched from boats offshore so that the display can be viewed along the curve of the beach.

The celebration grew into a major public event during the twentieth century. Music stages, live performances, and religious and cultural customs make the night more than a fireworks show. The Portuguese word réveillon is widely used in Brazil for the New Year's Eve celebration and its associated festivities.

Copacabana is sometimes confused with Ipanema, another famous Rio beach, but the globally recognized New Year's Eve gathering is associated with Copacabana. The beach's long shoreline allows enormous crowds to watch the midnight display, while the surrounding neighbourhood and transport network operate under special event arrangements.