Copacabana Beach is the famous beach where Rio de Janeiro holds its largest New Year's Eve celebration.
Rio's Réveillon celebration concentrates along the broad shoreline of Copacabana, where enormous crowds gather for concerts, ceremonies, and midnight fireworks. The beach's curved promenade and open view across the Atlantic provide a dramatic setting for the event.
A well-known custom is wearing white clothing, which is associated with peace and renewal. Many participants also honor Afro-Brazilian traditions by making offerings to Iemanjá, a sea-associated orixá, although practices differ among individuals and religious communities.
Fireworks are commonly launched from offshore barges so that the display can be seen from the beach and surrounding neighborhoods. Attendance varies by year and by counting method, but the celebration is routinely described as one of the world's largest public New Year's gatherings. Copacabana's name should not be confused with nearby Ipanema or Leblon, which are separate beaches.