Which Brazilian beach is the setting for Rio de Janeiro's major New Year's Eve celebration?

Copacabana Beach is the setting for Rio de Janeiro's major New Year's Eve celebration.

Millions of people traditionally gather along Rio's Copacabana waterfront for Réveillon, the Portuguese-speaking world's term for the New Year's celebration. The event combines concerts, fireworks and beach gatherings, making the shoreline one of Brazil's most recognizable places to welcome the new year.

Many participants wear white, a color associated with peace and renewal, and some follow Afro-Brazilian traditions connected with offerings to Iemanjá, a sea deity revered in Brazilian religious practice. Customs vary among individuals, so no single ritual defines everyone attending.

Copacabana Beach is sometimes confused with neighboring Ipanema, another famous Rio beach. The New Year's Eve event is centered on Copacabana, whose broad crescent shoreline and hotels accommodate huge crowds. The fireworks are generally launched from offshore barges, allowing the display to be viewed across much of the beach without placing launch equipment directly among spectators.