Rio de Janeiro Carnival’s main Special Group samba-school parades are traditionally held on Sunday and Monday nights.
These two nights form the central competitive spectacle of Rio Carnival. The elite samba schools present elaborate floats, costumes, choreography, and music before judges and spectators in the Sambadrome.
The dates move from year to year because Carnival is linked to the Christian calendar. Even so, the established pattern for the Special Group is the Sunday and Monday immediately before Ash Wednesday.
This schedule differs from the broader Carnival program. Street blocos, children’s events, rehearsals, and other parades can occur on many days before and after the principal competition, so “Rio Carnival” covers much more than these two nights alone.