What is the official name of the avenue where Rio’s main samba-school parades take place?

Rio de Janeiro’s main samba-school parades take place on the Marquês de Sapucaí avenue.

The avenue forms the central runway of the Sambadrome, the purpose-built parade complex in downtown Rio. Its full official name is the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, while many visitors simply call the venue the Sambadrome.

The name honors Cândido José de Araújo Viana, the Marquis of Sapucaí, a nineteenth-century Brazilian politician and administrator. The avenue was redesigned as a permanent Carnival parade space rather than a temporary street route.

The Marquês de Sapucaí should not be confused with Rio’s famous beachfront Avenida Atlântica or the city’s former major parade routes. During Carnival, the avenue becomes a theatrical procession space, with grandstands, judging areas, lighting and facilities for the samba schools.