this celebration is the most widely attended brazilian festival, and it is a world-famous event of huge proportions that literally stops brazil for one week and overtakes every aspect of life in rio.

carnival celebrations include hundreds of street parties called 'blocos', along with the main all-night parades at the sambódromo during which the various samba schools compete against one another by showing off their stunning floats, elaborate costumes, captivating music, dances, and gorgeous queens.

carnival culminates in the announcement of the carnival champion at the end of the week - we devoted an entire section of this guide to carnival.