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Welcome to your Rio de Janeiro daily brief for Thursday, February 19, 2026 — the first full weekday after Carnaval. Viradouro was crowned Rio’s 2026 champion yesterday with a perfect 270 points, and today’s agenda turns to the Série Ouro apuração at 17h and João Fonseca’s oitavas de final at the Rio Open from 19h. Museums reopen, MetrôRio resumes normal service, and the city returns to its regular rhythm. This Rio de Janeiro daily brief covers weather, events, museums, transport, food, and practical tips for your day.
This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Rio de Janeiro business and economic developments.
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01
\nWeather & Air Quality
\nWhat to wear
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Temperature
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23°–30°C
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Hot, partly cloudy
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Rain Chance
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65%
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Afternoon storms likely
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UV Index
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Extreme
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SPF 50+ essential
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Thu 19
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30°C
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65% rain — Storms PM
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Fri 20
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29°C
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65% rain — Showers
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Sat 21
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29°C
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55% rain
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Sun 22
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27°C
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90% rain — Heavy
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Weather tip: Sun and clouds through the morning with temperatures climbing to 30°C — umbrella weather from mid-afternoon as storms roll in with a 65% chance of heavy showers. February has already exceeded its monthly rainfall average (174 mm vs 169 mm normal). Friday and Saturday stay unsettled; Sunday looks wet. If you are heading to the Rio Open tonight, bring a rain jacket — the Jockey Club is outdoors.
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02
\nDay at a Glance
\nQuick scan
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—VIRADOURO CHAMPION — Crowned yesterday with 270 pts (maximum). Beija-Flor vice (269.9), Vila Isabel 3rd (269.9). Desfile das Campeãs: Saturday 21 from 22h35 at Sapucaí
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—SÉRIE OURO APURAÇÃO AT 17H — Novotel Porto Atlântico, Santo Cristo. Band Rio live and Band Folia on YouTube. 15 schools: campeã rises to Grupo Especial 2027, two relegated
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—RIO OPEN DAY 6 — Oitavas de final. Fonseca (3) vs Buse from 19h on Quadra Guga Kuerten. Etcheverry (8) vs Gaubas at 16h30. Berrettini vs Lajovic ~20h30. SporTV / GE TV
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—MUSEUMS REOPEN — CCBB back today (9h–20h). Vetores-Vertentes, Viva Mauricio, new cinema programme. MAM Rio, Museu do Amanhã reopening — check individual websites
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—FULL NORMAL WEEKDAY — MetrôRio regular schedule from 5h. Government offices, banks, and B3 all operating full hours. Road closures cleared
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—30°C, 65% rain — hot morning, storms likely afternoon. UV extreme. Bring umbrella for evening events
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The first full weekday after Carnaval brings two headline events: the Série Ouro apuração at 17h determines which school joins the Grupo Especial in 2027 (replacing the rebaixada Acadêmicos de Niterói), and at the Jockey Club, João Fonseca takes on Peruvian Ignacio Buse from 19h in a bid to reach the quartas de final for the second time. Fonseca is now the tournament’s de facto top seed after defending champion Baez was eliminated by Portugal’s Jaime Faria 7-5 6-1 on Wednesday. The CCBB reopens with three world-class exhibitions and a new cinema programme starting today. The city is back to full speed.
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03
\nCulture & Events
\nWhat to see & do
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Viradouro: Champion of Rio Carnaval 2026
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Apuração Results — Grupo Especial
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Announced Wed 18 Feb at Cidade do Samba — TV Globo / Globoplay
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Unidos do Viradouro: 270 pts (champion, 4th title). Beija-Flor: 269.9 (vice). Vila Isabel: 269.9 (3rd, tiebreak on samba-enredo). Salgueiro: 269.7. Imperatriz Leopoldinense: 269.4. Mangueira: 269.2. These six schools return for the Desfile das Campeãs on Saturday 21. Acadêmicos de Niterói (264.6 pts) rebaixada to Série Ouro. The enredo Pra cima, Ciça! celebrated Mestre Ciça, the legendary 69-year-old bateria commander, who led his ritmistas from the ground — and Juliana Paes returned as rainha de bateria after 18 years. Also honoured with the Estandarte de Ouro for Best School and Personality of the Year (Ciça).
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Desfile das Campeãs: Saturday 21 from 22h35 at Sapucaí. Tickets via liesa.org.br.
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Série Ouro — Apuração Today
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Novotel Porto Atlântico, Santo Cristo — From 17h — Band Rio live / Band Folia YouTube
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The 15 Série Ouro schools that paraded on Feb 13–14 at the Sapucaí await their fate. The campeã earns promotion to the Grupo Especial in 2027, replacing the rebaixada Acadêmicos de Niterói. Two last-placed schools will be relegated to the Série Prata. Among the contenders: Império Serrano (Ponciá Evaristo, Flor do Mulungu), Unidos de Padre Miguel, and Porto da Pedra. The apuração was moved to Thursday (from its traditional Wednesday slot) to give the Série Ouro its own spotlight, separate from the Grupo Especial results.
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Blocos de enredo apuração also today, at Largo da Penha.
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Rio Open 2026 — Day 6
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Rio Open ATP 500 — Oitavas de Final
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rioopen.com — Jockey Club Brasileiro, Gávea — Gates 15h — Session from 16h30 — SporTV 3 / GE TV
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Thursday’s schedule on Quadra Guga Kuerten: 16h30 — Etcheverry (8) vs Gaubas. 19h — Fonseca (3) vs Buse. ~20h30 — Berrettini vs Lajovic. Wednesday results that reshape the draw: Baez (4), the defending bicampeão, was eliminated by Faria (POR) 7-5 6-1 — the biggest upset of the tournament. J.M. Cerundolo def. Hanfmann 6-4 6-7(1) 6-4. F. Cerundolo (1) def. Tirante. In doubles, Fonseca/Melo crushed González/Molteni (2) 6-4 6-0 to reach the semifinal.
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If Fonseca wins tonight, he equals his best result (QF 2024) and faces the Berrettini/Lajovic winner. Quartas: Friday. Semis: Saturday. Final: Sunday 17h30.
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Leblon Boulevard — Food & Experience at the Jockey
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Jockey Club Brasileiro, Gávea — Open with your Rio Open ticket
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The Leblon Boulevard experience at the Jockey Club offers curated dining alongside the tennis — Francese, Jappa da Quitanda, and Benola Burger among the options. Lounges, live DJ sets between matches, and a fan zone complement the on-court action. The Quadra Guga Kuerten seats 6,200 and has been regularly packed for Fonseca’s matches. Best access: ride-hail app to the Jockey Club (no adjacent metro station).
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Museums & Exhibitions
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CCBB Rio — Reopens Today
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R. Primeiro de Março 66, Centro — Wed–Mon 9h–20h (closed Tuesdays) — Free
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Vetores-Vertentes: Fotógrafas do Pará — 170 works by 11 women photographers from the Amazon, one of the decade’s most significant Brazilian photography exhibitions (2nd floor, through 30 March). Viva Mauricio — immersive Turma da Mônica experience, 415,000+ visitors (through 13 April). New today: O Cinema Anticolonial de Sarah Maldoror film programme (Cinema I, through 16 March). Museu BB permanent collection on 4th floor. All free.
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MAM Rio, Museu do Amanhã & More
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Check individual museum websites for confirmed reopening dates
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MAM Rio (Aterro do Flamengo): Daniel Buren’s Voile/Toile – Toile/Voile, Carmen Portinho retrospective, and 100 Years of Art: Gilberto Chateaubriand. Museu do Amanhã (Praça Mauá). Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (Av. Rio Branco). Casa Museu Eva Klabin (Lagoa, Wed–Sun 14h–18h). Nara Roesler gallery in Ipanema (Mon–Fri 10h–18h). A Gentil Carioca (Centro, Mon–Fri 12h–18h). Most institutions reopen today or Friday — confirm exact hours before visiting.
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04
\nTransport & Getting Around
\nKnow before you go
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MetrôRio
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NORMAL SERVICE
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Regular weekday schedule resumed at 5h. The 139-hour nonstop Carnaval operation ended midnight Wednesday. Lines 1, 2 and 4 all running standard hours (5h–24h). Estação Saara/Presidente Vargas fully operational. Posto de Gratuidade (Central) resumes today. Next 24h operation: Saturday 21 (5h) to Sunday 22 (23h) for Desfile das Campeãs.
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VLT Carioca
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NORMAL OPERATION
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Full weekday service. All lines through Centro restored to normal routing. Useful for reaching CCBB (Parada dos Museus stop) and Praça Mauá (Museu do Amanhã). Riocard/Giro accepted.
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Buses & BRT
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NORMAL SERVICE
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All BRT lines resume regular weekday schedules. Carnaval road closures around Av. Presidente Vargas and Sapucaí have been cleared. Check Mobi-Rio and Rio Ônibus apps for real-time updates.
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Barcas & Rideshare
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Barcas: full weekday schedule. Arariboia, Charitas, Paquetá, Cocotá all running normally. Rideshare pricing back to normal after Carnaval surge. For the Rio Open at the Jockey Club, ride-hail is recommended — no nearby metro station.
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Transport tip: For CCBB, take VLT to Parada dos Museus or walk from Uruguaiana metro. For the Rio Open at the Jockey Club, ride-hail is your best bet — Uber/99 typically 20–30 min from Copacabana. For the Série Ouro apuração at the Novotel in Santo Cristo, take the VLT (Cordeiro da Graça stop) or metro to Central and walk.
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05
\nFood & Drink
\nWhere to eat
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Post-Carnaval Recovery
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→ Most restaurants and botecos have reopened for full weekday service — the post-Carnaval feijoada and caldo verde tradition continues
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→ Bar do Mineiro (Santa Teresa) and Boteco Belmonte (multiple Zona Sul locations) are reliable post-folia recovery spots
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→ Supermarkets and padarias: fully stocked and operating normal hours
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Rio Open Dining
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→ Leblon Boulevard at the Jockey Club: Francese, Jappa da Quitanda, Benola Burger — curated food with your ticket
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→ Near the Jockey: CT Boucherie (Leblon), Sushi Leblon, or the always-reliable Jobi (Leblon) for a pre-match chopp
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→ Copacabana/Ipanema beachfront quiosques open as usual for a sunset meal with a view
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06
\nPractical Information
\nNeed to know
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Money & Banking
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→ Banks open full hours today. B3 trading full session (10h–17h55). Boletos due during Carnaval payable today without penalty
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→ BC liquidated Banco Pleno yesterday — a separate financial institution from Banco Master. FGC covers eligible depositors
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→ Pix and ATMs functioning normally 24/7. Shopping malls fully operational
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Government & Services
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→ Full normal weekday. Government offices, Detran, Poupatempo equivalents all open regular hours
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→ MetrôRio Posto de Gratuidade (Central) resumes today after being closed since Feb 13
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→ CPNU 2 results (Concurso Nacional Unificado) published today — candidates can check individual scores on the official website from 16h
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07
\nCommunity & Expat Life
\nConnect
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Pós-Carnaval Culture Reset
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→ CCBB is the top cultural pick today — three exhibitions, a new cinema programme, and a well-air-conditioned escape from the heat
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→ Casa Museu Eva Klabin in Lagoa — quieter alternative, open Wed–Sun 14h–18h. Current show: haute couture and photography from the collector’s legacy
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→ A Gentil Carioca (Centro, Mon–Fri 12h–18h) — coletiva opening from Feb 7, strong emerging artists programme
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This Weekend
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→ Desfile das Campeãs: Sat 21 from 22h35 at Sapucaí — last chance to see the top 6 schools parade. Tickets via liesa.org.br
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→ Pós-Carnaval blocos through Sunday 22 — Monobloco traditionally closes the season
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→ Rio Open climax: semis Saturday, final Sunday 17h30 — a great sporting weekend at the Jockey Club
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08
\nSports
\nScores & fixtures
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Rio Open — Singles Draw Update
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→ Baez (4) OUT — defending bicampeão eliminated by Faria (POR) 7-5 6-1. Biggest upset of the tournament
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→ Fonseca (3) is now the de facto favourite. Faces Buse (91st) tonight at 19h — first career meeting
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→ Upper half: F. Cerundolo (1) and J.M. Cerundolo both through. Lower half: Etcheverry (8) vs Gaubas, Berrettini vs Lajovic today
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→ Doubles: Fonseca/Melo in semifinal (Fri) after crushing González/Molteni (2) 6-4 6-0
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Cariocão & Other Sports
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→ Cariocão semis confirmed: Flamengo vs Madureira (ida Sun 22). Fluminense vs Vasco (ida Sun 22). Final: March 7 or 8
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→ No live football in Rio today. Brasileirão Série A resumes later this month
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→ Sul-Americano de Clubes de Vôlei Feminino continues in Rio
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→ Coutinho reportedly requested contract rescission from Vasco — situation developing
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Sports note: The Rio Open draw has been blown open by Baez’s shock exit. Fonseca is now the highest-ranked remaining player alongside F. Cerundolo (1). Tonight’s match against Buse (19h, SporTV 3) is his chance to equal his 2024 quarterfinal run — and potentially set up a blockbuster clash with Berrettini. In doubles, Fonseca/Melo’s demolition of the second-seeded Argentine pair (6-4 6-0) was the most emphatic result of the tournament so far.
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09
\nBusiness & Markets
\nMarket watch
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→ Ibovespa: closed at 186,016 (-0.24%) on the shortened Quarta-feira de Cinzas session. Vale (VALE3) fell 3.57%, dragging the index
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→ USD/BRL: R$5.24 (+0.21%). Petrobras (PETR4) +0.81%. PRIO3 +2.32%, Brava +2.54% on oil price surge (US-Iran tensions)
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→ Fed minutes (Jan meeting): several members open to rate cuts if inflation converges to 2% target, but majority sees slow process. US rates at 3.50–3.75%
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→ Selic: 15.00%. Boletim Focus: IPCA 2026 forecast trimmed to 3.95% (from 3.97%). Market expects rate cuts to begin in March
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→ BC liquidated Banco Pleno (ex-partner of Banco Master’s Vorcaro). Separate institution. FGC covers eligible deposits
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Market context: Today is the first full trading session since the Carnaval break. Wednesday’s abbreviated session (13h–17h55) saw low liquidity and was dominated by Vale’s 3.57% drop on iron ore weakness and the Banco Pleno liquidation news. US markets rose (S&P +0.56%, Nasdaq +0.78%). Oil futures jumped on US-Iran tensions, boosting energy names. Ibovespa record remains 190,561 (intraday, Feb 11). Foreign inflows into Brazilian equities: R$33+ billion YTD.
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10
\nWeek Ahead
\nPlan ahead
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Thu–Sun Highlights
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→ Today — Série Ouro apuração 17h (Novotel). Rio Open oitavas from 16h30 (Fonseca 19h). Museums reopen. First full normal weekday
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→ Fri 20 — Rio Open quartas de final from 16h. Fonseca/Melo doubles semi. Escolas mirins desfile at Sapucaí. Pós-Carnaval blocos begin
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→ Sat 21 — Desfile das Campeãs from 22h35 (Viradouro, Beija-Flor, Vila Isabel, Salgueiro, Imperatriz, Mangueira). Rio Open semis + doubles final from 17h. MetrôRio 24h (5h Sat to 23h Sun)
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→ Sun 22 — Rio Open final at 17h30. Cariocão semifinal ida: Flamengo vs Madureira, Fluminense vs Vasco. Monobloco closes the pós-Carnaval season
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→ Looking further — CCBB Lab Maker workshops start Sat 21 (quadrinhos theme). Cariocão semifinal volta: late Feb/early March. Final: March 7 or 8
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Looking ahead: This weekend is the grand finale of Rio’s Carnaval season. The Desfile das Campeãs on Saturday night brings newly crowned champion Viradouro back to the Sapucaí alongside five other top schools. The Rio Open builds towards its climax with the semis on Saturday and the final on Sunday — João Fonseca’s quest for a first home title continues tonight. And on Sunday, the Cariocão semifinais begin with a Fla-Madureira and Flu-Vasco double bill.
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Rio de Janeiro Daily Brief — Thursday, February 19, 2026
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A culture-first daily guide for locals and expats in the Cidade Maravilhosa.
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