The Sambadrome was inaugurated in 1984 as Rio de Janeiro’s permanent avenue for samba-school parades.
Before its construction, Rio’s major samba-school parades used temporary arrangements in streets and other public spaces. The new complex provided fixed grandstands, judging areas, and an organized route along Avenida Marquês de Sapucaí.
Its official name is Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, and it was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The venue’s opening transformed the parade into a purpose-built spectacle while preserving the school-based competition and its community traditions.
The Sambadrome is sometimes described as a stadium, but its defining feature is a long parade avenue rather than a conventional field surrounded by seats. It also hosts events outside Carnival, although its international identity comes from Rio’s annual samba-school competition.