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01
\nWeather & Air Quality
\nWhat to wear
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Temperature
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24°–29°C
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Partly cloudy, warm
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Rain Chance
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15%
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Low risk
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UV Index
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Very High
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SPF 50+ essential
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Mon 16
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30°C
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5% rain
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Tue 17
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31°C
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0% rain — Clear
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Wed 18
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31°C
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15% rain
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Thu 19
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30°C
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Partly cloudy
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Weather tip: Ideal conditions for Carnaval Sunday. Only 15% rain chance and the four-day outlook is the best Carnaval forecast Rio has seen in years — Monday dry, Tuesday zero rain, Wednesday 15%. The heat is the real challenge: 29°C with high humidity and UV in the “very high” band from 10h to 15h. Hydrate aggressively, reapply SPF 50+ every 90 minutes, and seek shade between blocos. Hat and sunglasses strongly recommended for blocos running through the morning in full sun. If heading to Botafogo vs Flamengo at 17h30, the Nilton Santos has partial shade in upper tiers only.
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02
\nDay at a Glance
\nQuick scan
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—GRUPO ESPECIAL NIGHT 1 — The Sapucaí’s main event begins tonight at 21h45. Four schools: Acadêmicos de Niterói, Imperatriz Leopoldinense (~23h20), Portela (~01h00), Mangueira (~02h30). Live on TV Globo. Each school has 70–80 min to cross the avenue
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—BOTAFOGO vs FLAMENGO — Cariocão quarterfinal at 17h30, Nilton Santos. Single-match elimination (penalties if drawn). Stadium split 50/50. The clássico of the Carnaval weekend. TV Globo and Premiere
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—40+ BLOCOS TODAY — Céu na Terra (Santa Teresa 7h), Cordão da Bola Preta (Centro 7h), Sargento Pimenta (Flamengo 8h), Little Be (Ipanema 8h), Império da Cruzada (Leblon 14h), Quilombo da Glória (15h). Full list below
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—MetrôRio 24h — continuous operation since Friday 5h through Wed 18 midnight (139 hours nonstop). Line 2 runs Pavuna–General Osório today. Central do Brasil open 24h. Estação Saara closed today through Tue 17
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—29°C, 15% rain — warm and mostly dry. UV very high: SPF 50+, hat, rehydrate constantly. Best four-day Carnaval forecast in years. Tuesday 0% rain for the final night of Grupo Especial
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—Ibovespa closed Friday at 186,464 (-0.69%). USD/BRL at R$5.23. B3 now CLOSED until Wed Feb 18 at 13h. Banks closed Mon 16 & Tue 17. US markets also dark Mon (Presidents’ Day)
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—TERREIRÃO DO SAMBA — Doors at 20h. Branka, Vitinho, Primeiro Amor and headliner Ferrugem through dawn. Tickets from R$15. Near the Sapucaí at Praça Onze
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—BAILES DA CINELÂNDIA — Free open-air stage from 16h30. Concurso de Foliões (16h–18h30), live shows with Osmar do Breque, Ellen de Lima, Paulo Nunes, Selma Costa, Orquestra Tupy
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Tonight the Marquês de Sapucaí transforms into the greatest open-air stage on earth as the Grupo Especial begins its three-night run of parades. For the second consecutive year, twelve schools are spread across three evenings — four per night — with each escola given 70 to 80 minutes to tell their story in samba-enredo, alegorias, fantasias and choreography. Acadêmicos de Niterói open proceedings at 21h45, returning to the elite division after winning the Série Ouro in 2025. They are followed by Imperatriz Leopoldinense with an enredo celebrating the strength of women in literatura de cordel, Portela singing the history and origins of samba itself, and Mangueira closing with a tribute to Djavan. The event is broadcast live on TV Globo, and an estimated 500,000 people will attend across the three nights.
This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Rio de Janeiro business and economic developments.
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Before the Sapucaí takes centre stage, Sunday delivers two parallel spectacles. On the streets, dozens of blocos march from dawn — Céu na Terra descends the cobblestone ladeiras of Santa Teresa at 7h, Cordão da Bola Preta rallies its black-and-white army in Centro at 7h, and Sargento Pimenta brings Beatles hits reimagined in samba to Flamengo at 8h. In the afternoon, Império da Cruzada takes Leblon at 14h and Quilombo da Glória fills Rua Cândido Mendes at 15h. At 17h30, the Nilton Santos hosts the day’s other main event: Botafogo vs Flamengo in the Cariocão quarterfinals — single-match elimination with the stadium split evenly between both fan bases.
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The Ibovespa closed Friday’s pre-Carnaval session at 186,464 points (-0.69%), weighed down by Vale (-2.47%) after the miner reported a Q4 loss and by Petrobras (-0.59%). The dollar rose to R$5.23. B3 is now closed until Wednesday Feb 18 at 13h. In the US, January CPI came in slightly below expectations (2.4% annual, down from 2.7%), reviving hopes for two Fed rate cuts in 2026. For expats, the real at R$5.22–5.23 remains favourable by recent standards, though it slipped from mid-week lows near R$5.15.
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03
\nCulture & Events
\nWhat to see & do
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Sapucaí — Grupo Especial Night 1
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Grupo Especial — First Night of Parades
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Marquês de Sapucaí, R. Marquês de Sapucaí, Santo Cristo — Gates from 19h, parades from 21h45 —
liesa.globo.com\n
The 2026 Grupo Especial runs across three nights for the second consecutive year, with four schools per evening. Tonight’s lineup: (1) Acadêmicos de Niterói at 21h45, returning to the elite after winning Série Ouro 2025; (2) Imperatriz Leopoldinense at ~23h20, with an enredo celebrating women in literatura de cordel; (3) Portela at ~01h00, singing the history and origins of samba; (4) Estação Primeira de Mangueira at ~02h30, closing the night with a tribute to Djavan. Only the champion avoids potential rebaixamento; the last-placed school drops to Série Ouro in 2027.
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THE event of Carnaval Sunday. Live on TV Globo. Each school has 70–80 min. No outside alcohol; only plastic bottles without caps permitted. Metro stations Central and Praça Onze open 24h. Odd-sector ticket holders: disembark at Central do Brasil. Even-sector: Praça Onze.
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Terreirão do Samba — Ferrugem Headlines
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Rua Benedito Hipólito 66, Praça Onze — From 20h — R$30 (inteira) / R$15 (meia) — 18+
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The Terreirão do Samba Nelson Sargento continues its ten-night Carnaval programme tonight with a lineup that runs through dawn. DJ FM O Dia opens at 20h. Branka takes the stage from 22h to 23h30, followed by Vitinho (0h–1h20), Primeiro Amor (1h45–2h50), and headliner Ferrugem (3h15–4h30). The Terreirão sits steps from the Sapucaí at Praça Onze — a natural pre- or post-parade stop. Tickets available at Bilheteria Digital and at the door.
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Blocos de Rua — Sunday Highlights
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Céu na Terra — Santa Teresa
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R. Almirante Alexandrino, 89, Santa Teresa — 7h — Free
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One of Rio’s most beautiful cortejos descends the cobblestone ladeiras of Santa Teresa with estandartes, brass instruments, and the bohemian spirit that defines the neighbourhood. A smaller, more artistic counterpart to the megablocos downtown — ideal for those who prefer intimacy over scale.
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Cordão da Bola Preta — Centro
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Terminal Menezes Cortes, Centro — 7h — Free
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Founded in 1918, Rio’s oldest active bloco takes to the streets for its 107th year with its unmistakable black-and-white army. The Bola Preta marches through Centro to marchinhas, samba, and MPB classics. Recognised as Patrimônio Histórico, Cultural e Imaterial do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Arrive early — by 9h the crowd is already enormous. Metro to Uruguaiana or Carioca.
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Sargento Pimenta — Flamengo
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Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 75, Flamengo — 8h — Free
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Beatles hits reimagined in samba and marchinha style. Sargento Pimenta draws an energetic, costume-heavy crowd to the Aterro do Flamengo with Guanabara Bay as its backdrop. One of the most popular blocos among expats and younger cariocas — the kind of bloco where everyone sings along.
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Bailes da Cinelândia — Free
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Praça da Cinelândia, Centro — From 16h30 — Free
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The Bailes da Cinelândia run Sun–Tue on the open-air stage at the historic praça. Today’s programme: Concurso de Foliões Originais (16h–18h30), followed by live shows featuring Osmar do Breque, Ellen de Lima, Paulo Nunes, Tom da Bahia, Selma Costa, and closing with Orquestra Tupy. A free, accessible alternative to the ticketed Sapucaí.
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More Sunday Blocos
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More Blocos by Neighbourhood
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→ Centro: Que Pena, Amor (Buraco do Lume, 7h — pagode dos anos 90), Multibloco (Av. Henrique Valadares, 7h), Forró da Taylor (Largo São Francisco de Paula, 7h), Bloco da InsanaRJ (Av. Henrique Valadares, 10h), Cordão do Prata Preta (Praça da Harmonia, Gamboa, 9h), Flor de Lis (Largo São Francisco de Paula, 14h), Tecnomacumba (Av. Barão de Tefé, Saúde, 16h)
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→ Zona Sul: Vem Cá Minha Flor (Av. Marechal Câmara, 8h), Little Be (Ipanema, 8h), Carrossel de Emoções (Glória, 14h), Império da Cruzada (Leblon, 14h), Bloco Peru Sadio (Leme, 14h), Quilombo da Glória (15h), Pela Saco (Botafogo, 15h)
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→ Barra & Zona Oeste: Bloco dos Cachaças (Av. Lúcio Costa, 14h)
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→ Zona Norte & Tijuca: Faroeste Cabloco (Praça Xavier de Brito, 12h), Cordão da Tia Juca (Tijuca, 16h)
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Intendente Magalhães — Passarela Popular
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Estr. Intendente Magalhães, Campinho — 18h — Free
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The Passarela Popular do Samba hosts desfiles from the Séries Prata, Bronze and Grupo de Avaliação tonight. Free entry, no tickets required. A more intimate, community-driven Carnaval experience in the heart of Zona Norte — real samba, real community, no tourists. Metro to Campinho or Pinto Teles (special hours).
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Why it matters for expats: If you missed Grupo Especial tickets, this is the free alternative with genuine Carnaval atmosphere.
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04
\nTransport & Getting Around
\nKnow before you go
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MetrôRio
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24H CONTINUOUS OPERATION
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MetrôRio runs nonstop from Friday 5h through Wed 18 midnight (139 hours total). Line 2 extends to General Osório/Ipanema today through Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Transfer between Lines 1 and 2 available from Central do Brasil to General Osório. Estação Saara closed today through Tue 17. For the Sapucaí: Central do Brasil (odd sectors) or Praça Onze (even sectors). For the match at Nilton Santos: São Cristóvão station.
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Supervia Trains
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EXTRA TRAINS FROM CENTRAL
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Central do Brasil open 24h. Extra trains to Santa Cruz (22h30, 0h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h), Japeri (22h50, 0h20, 1h30, 2h30, 3h30, 4h30, 5h30), Saracuruna (22h30, 0h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h), and Belford Roxo (0h20, 2h20, 4h20). For Intendente Magalhães desfiles: use Campinho or Pinto Teles (special hours). Return via Terminal Paulo da Portela from 4h or Madureira–Manaceia (24h).
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VLT Carioca
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DISRUPTIONS — LINES 2 & 4 SUSPENDED
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VLT Lines 2 and 4 do NOT circulate through Centro today through Tuesday due to bloco routes. Line 1 (Terminal Gentileza–Santos Dumont) and Line 3 (Central–Santos Dumont, extended to Terminal Gentileza) operate with 20-min intervals. Use Sete de Setembro station (500m from bloco areas).
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Barcas & Road Closures
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SPECIAL SCHEDULE
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Barcas Arariboia line (Niterói–Praça XV) runs with 30-min intervals today, reduced to 15 min during peak hours (7h–10h, 12h–15h) with extra crossings in both directions. CET-Rio has rolling road closures across Centro, Zona Sul, and Zona Norte for credentialed blocos. Roads around Centro and the Sapucaí will be impassable from late afternoon.
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Transport tip: For the Sapucaí tonight, use Central do Brasil (odd sectors) or Praça Onze (even sectors). Arrive at least 90 minutes before your school’s scheduled start. For Botafogo vs Flamengo at 17h30, metro to São Cristóvão is the only sane option — roads around the Nilton Santos will be gridlocked. After the match, you can head directly to the Sapucaí or Terreirão do Samba from Central do Brasil. Uber/99 surge pricing near blocos and the stadium will be extreme.
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05
\nFood & Drink
\nWhere to eat
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Restaurant Picks
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→ Bar do Mineiro, Santa Teresa — Feijoada, pastéis, cachaça. The ideal pre- or post-Céu na Terra refuel. R$40–70. Expect queues on Carnaval Sunday
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→ Cervantes, Copacabana — The legendary sanduíche de filé com abacaxi. Open late, open through Carnaval. R$30–50. Perfect post-bloco recovery
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Hydration & Street Food
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→ Water vendors are everywhere but prices spike near megablocos. Buy in bulk at supermarkets the night before. Freeze bottles overnight — they double as ice packs
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→ Acarajé vendors along bloco routes in Centro. Espetinhos and caldinho at blocos in Lapa and Glória. Cash in small bills (R$5/10/20) — many street vendors don’t accept card
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06
\nPractical Information
\nNeed to know
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Money & Rates
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→ USD/BRL: R$5.23 (Fri close, +0.57%). Touched R$5.15 intraday earlier in the week — lowest since May 2024
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→ EUR/BRL: approx. R$6.20
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→ Selic rate: 15.00% (next Copom meeting March). Market pricing cuts beginning March, year-end expectations around 12.5%
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→ Banks CLOSED today (Sunday). Closed Mon 16 & Tue 17 (feriado bancário). Reopen Wed 18 at 12h. Pix and ATMs function 24/7
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Health & Safety
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→ SPM-Rio women’s safety posts active at the Sapucaí, Fan Fest Copacabana, and major bloco circuits
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→ Phone safety: pochete (belt bag) under clothing. Minimal cash. Leave passport at hotel. Screenshot metro maps offline
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→ Operação Lei Seca active at strategic points — zero tolerance. Use metro, not rideshare after drinking
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→ Dengue season active — repellent at dusk, especially near lagoons and parks. Carnaval medical posts at Praça Ana Amélia (Centro) and Praça do Lido (Copacabana)
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Carnaval Calendar
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→ Sapucaí: Grupo Especial Sun 15, Mon 16, Tue 17 (from 21h45) / Escolas Mirins Feb 20 / Desfile das Campeãs Sat 21
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→ Holiday status: Mon 16 ponto facultativo. Tue 17 official state feriado (Lei Estadual 5.243/2008). B3 closed Mon–Tue, reopens Wed 18 at 13h
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→ App: download Blocos do Rio 2026 or visit
carnavalderua.rio for real-time bloco tracking and route maps
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07
\nCommunity & Expat Life
\nConnect
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Expat Carnaval Picks
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→ First Carnaval? Start with Céu na Terra (Santa Teresa, 7h) — smaller, contained, and deeply cultural. Graduate to Sargento Pimenta (Flamengo, 8h) for the megabloco experience with English-friendly crowds
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→ Sapucaí for first-timers: Arrive at least 90 min before your school. Comfortable shoes non-negotiable — you will stand for hours. Bring only essentials in a waterproof pouch
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→ Language tip: “Qual bloco está passando?” (Which bloco is coming through?) and “Tem água?” (Do you have water?) are essential. “Cadê o trio elétrico?” (Where’s the sound truck?) will get you oriented quickly
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Shopping & Services
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→ Shopping malls: Lojas 14h–20h today (Sunday hours). Restaurants open 12h–last customer. Mon: reduced hours. Tue (feriado): lojas closed, restaurants only
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→ Supermarkets: most open today with reduced Sunday hours. Stock up on water, electrolytes, and snacks for the next three days
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→ Consular services: Most consulates on holiday schedule. For emergencies, contact your consulate’s after-hours line. US Consulate Rio: +55 21 3823-2000
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08
\nSports
\nScores & fixtures
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Cariocão 2026 — Quarterfinals
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→ TODAY — Botafogo vs Flamengo, 17h30, Nilton Santos. Single-match elimination (penalties if drawn). Botafogo topped Group B and host Flamengo. Stadium divided 50/50 between both fan bases. TV Globo and Premiere
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→ Fri 13: Madureira vs Boavista (17h, Conselheiro Galvão)
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→ Sat 14: Vasco vs Volta Redonda (21h30, São Januário)
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→ Mon 16: Fluminense vs Bangu (18h, Maracanã)
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Running & Fitness
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→ Aterro do Flamengo will be packed with Sargento Pimenta crowds from 8h. Runners: use the early window (5h30–7h) or switch to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
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→ Copacabana calçadão remains open but expect crowds near bloco
routes through Leme and Posto 6
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Sports note: The Cariocão quarterfinals run through Carnaval — football does not pause this year. Today’s clássico Botafogo vs Flamengo at 17h30 is the marquee fixture. Brasileirão resumes after Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Tomorrow, Fluminense vs Bangu at the Maracanã (18h) completes the quarterfinal round.
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09
\nBusiness & Markets
\nMarket watch
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→ B3 CLOSED — Carnaval recess began after Friday’s session. Reopens Wed Feb 18 at 13h (pré-abertura 12h45)
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→ Ibovespa: Fri close 186,464 (-0.69%). Hit 11 all-time closing records in 2026, touching 190,561 intraday on Wednesday (11). Week: +1.92% despite Friday’s pre-holiday profit-taking. YTD: +15.73%
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→ USD/BRL: Fri close R$5.23 (+0.57%). Week: +0.18%. Mid-week low R$5.15 (lowest since May 2024)
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→ US CPI (Jan): 2.4% annual (below expected 2.5%, down from 2.7% Dec). Markets now pricing two Fed cuts in 2026, first likely July
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→ Selic at 15.00%. Market pricing cuts beginning March, with year-end expectations around 12.5%. IPCA inflation expectations edged down to 3.99%
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→ US markets also closed Mon Feb 16 (Presidents’ Day). Both B3 and NYSE dark on Monday — low global liquidity through Wednesday
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Market trend: The Ibovespa enters Carnaval up 1.92% for the week despite Friday’s correction, with a record close of 189,699 on Wednesday and a historic intraday breach of 190,000. Carnaval 2026 is expected to generate R$14 billion nationally with record tourist flows; Rio alone accounts for R$5.9 billion in economic impact. The convergence of Carnaval in Brazil and Presidents’ Day in the US means both B3 and NYSE are closed Monday — a rare simultaneous shutdown that concentrates all repricing into Wednesday’s shortened session. The softer-than-expected US CPI may support emerging market flows when trading resumes.
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10
\nWeek Ahead
\nPlan ahead
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Carnaval Week (Mon–Sat)
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→ Mon Feb 16 — Grupo Especial Night 2 at Sapucaí from 21h45: Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel (enredo on coffee), Beija-Flor de Nilópolis (defending champion, enredo “Bembé”), Unidos do Viradouro (orixá mythology), Unidos da Tijuca (Northeastern culture). Fluminense vs Bangu at Maracanã at 18h. Ponto facultativo. B3 and NYSE both closed
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→ Tue Feb 17 — Official feriado (state law). Grupo Especial Night 3 from 21h45: Paraíso do Tuiuti (tribute to Alcione), Vila Isabel (history of silk), Acadêmicos do Grande Rio (Amazônia), Acadêmicos do Salgueiro. Last official day of folia
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→ Wed Feb 18 — Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Banks reopen 12h. B3 reopens 13h. Apuração at Sapucaí (results announced). MetrôRio nonstop operation ends at midnight. City returns to normal operations. Government offices reopen Thu (19)
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→ Fri Feb 20 — Escolas Mirins at Sapucaí. Terreirão do Samba resumes with Palito, Dudu Nobre, Fundo de Quintal, Bom Gosto
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→ Sat Feb 21 — Desfile das Campeãs at Sapucaí (top six schools return). MetrôRio 24h resumes (5h Sat to 23h Sun). Terreirão final night: Leandro Sapucahy, Clareou, Pretinho convida Seu Jorge, Tiee
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Looking ahead: Rio’s Carnaval 2026 is the largest in the city’s history — over 460 blocos, three nights of Grupo Especial, and an estimated 8 million people circulating through the city over the holiday. Tonight marks the beginning of the Sapucaí’s main event, with Acadêmicos de Niterói returning to the elite division. Tomorrow’s Night 2 features the defending champion Beija-Flor with its enredo “Bembé,” celebrating a 130-year-old candomblé tradition from Recôncavo Baiano. The Desfile das Campeãs on Feb 21 is the smart alternative for those who missed the main nights — tickets are still available via LIESA. Today, Botafogo and Flamengo settle their clássico at 17h30. Tonight, the Sapucaí takes over.
Related: São Paulo Brief | Brazil Morning Call
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