Welcome to your Rio de Janeiro daily brief for Wednesday, February 18, 2026 — Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Carnaval’s final act plays out this afternoon as the Cidade do Samba hosts the apuração from 16h to crown Rio’s 2026 champion. The Fan Fest in Copacabana broadcasts the results on a giant screen before Alcione takes the stage at 18h30. The Rio Open continues at the Jockey Club with oitavas de final. 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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26°–31°C
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Hot, partly cloudy
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Rain Chance
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50%
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Afternoon showers possible
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UV Index
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High
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SPF 50+ recommended
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Wed 18
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31°C
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50% rain — Showers PM
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Thu 19
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28°C
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65% rain — Storms likely
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Fri 20
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28°C
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45% rain
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Sat 21
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28°C
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25% rain
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Weather tip: Morning starts warm and clear — ideal for being outdoors at the Fan Fest or Jockey Club. Cloud cover builds through the afternoon with a 50% chance of showers by late afternoon, so carry a light rain jacket if you plan to be at the apuração or the Rio Open. Thursday and Friday turn wetter with temperatures dipping to 28°C and storms likely. Saturday improves for the Desfile das Campeãs.
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02
\nDay at a Glance
\nQuick scan
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—APURAÇÃO AT 16H — Cidade do Samba hosts the count that crowns Rio’s 2026 Grupo Especial champion. Globo from 14h45 (recap), 15h50 (live). 54 jurors, 9 quesitos, new rule: even 10.0 scores must be justified
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—FAN FEST COPACABANA — Free (Rio Carnaval app), 14h–22h. Telão for apuração 15h30, Alcione 18h30, Samba da Volta 20h. Final edition before Desfile das Campeãs
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—RIO OPEN DAY 5 — Oitavas de final at Jockey Club from 16h30. Fonseca/Melo doubles 16h30. Singles: Miguel vs Gaubas, Cerundolo F. vs Tirante, Hanfmann vs Cerundolo J.M. SporTV
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—MetrôRio 24H ENDS MIDNIGHT — 139h nonstop operation concludes at 24h tonight. Normal service resumes Thu 5h. Next 24h: Sat 21 (5h) to Sun 22 (23h) for Desfile das Campeãs
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—PONTO FACULTATIVO until 14h — Government offices resume after 14h. Banks reopen 12h. B3 reopens 13h (shortened session to 17h55). Museums closed today
Quarta-feira de Cinzas is the day Rio crowns its champion. The apuração at the Cidade do Samba from 16h is the culmination of three nights of Grupo Especial competition at the Sapucaí. Contenders include defending champion Beija-Flor (first year without Neguinho da Beija-Flor), Mangueira (chasing its 21st title), Viradouro (strong second-night showing that turned heads), Salgueiro (seeking its first since 2009), and Portela (all-time leader, 22 titles). The Fan Fest in Copacabana broadcasts the results live on a giant screen before Alcione performs. At the Jockey Club, the Rio Open enters its oitavas de final — João Fonseca won his opening match Tuesday, defeating Thiago Monteiro 7-6(1) 6-1 for his first singles victory of 2026.
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\nRio de Janeiro Daily Brief for Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo Internet reproduction)
Cidade do Samba, Gamboa — From 16h (some sources: 15h50) — TV Globo live (14h45 recap, 15h50 apuração), Globoplay, G1
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Twelve schools paraded across three nights at the Marquês de Sapucaí. This afternoon the LIESA reads the notes across 9 quesitos, judged by 54 jurors — of whom 36 will be read (chosen by lot). Key contenders: defending champion Beija-Flor, Mangueira (chasing 21st title), Viradouro (strong Night 2), Salgueiro (seeking first since 2009), Portela (all-time leader, 22 titles). New rule: jurors must justify even perfect 10.0 scores. Last-placed school relegated to Série Ouro.
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THE event of Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Desfile das Campeãs: Saturday 21 Feb from 22h35.
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Carnaval Fan Fest — Copacabana
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Praia de Copacabana — 14h–22h — Free (register via Rio Carnaval app)
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14h: gates open. 15h30: live apuração on giant screen. 18h30: Alcione takes the stage. 20h: Samba da Volta closes out the festival. This has been the public’s central gathering point all Carnaval. Tonight marks the final edition before it reopens briefly for the Desfile das Campeãs on Saturday 21. Metrô: Cardeal Arcoverde or Siqueira Campos.
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Rio Open 2026 — Day 5
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Rio Open ATP 500 — Oitavas de Final
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rioopen.com — Jockey Club Brasileiro, Gávea — Portões 15h — Session from 16h30 — SporTV / Tennis TV
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Wednesday features oitavas de final in singles and doubles action. Tuesday results: Fonseca (3) def. Monteiro 7-6(1) 6-1 — first win of 2026 for the 19-year-old carioca. Berrettini def. Barrios Vera 7-6(1) 7-5. Wednesday singles: Miguel (BRA) vs Gaubas (LTU), Burruchaga vs Kopriva, Hanfmann vs Cerundolo J.M., Cerundolo F. (1) vs Tirante. Doubles: Fonseca/Melo vs González/Molteni at 16h30 on Quadra Central.
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Fonseca’s next singles: Buse (PER) in oitavas Thu. Other Brazilians (Reis, Heide, Marcondes) eliminated R1. Finals: Sun 22 at 17h30.
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Samba da Apuração — Casarão do Firmino
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Rua da Relação 19, Lapa — From 13h — Collaborative entry
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Live music (Grupo Arruda, Samba do Xoxó, DJ Nicolle Neumann), telão for the apuração, and free chopp from 13h to 14h30. A neighbourhood institution where torcidas of all twelve escolas gather to watch the results together. An atmospheric alternative to the Fan Fest for those who prefer samba de raiz over beach crowds.
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Museums & Exhibitions
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CCBB Rio — Vetores-Vertentes & Viva Mauricio
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R. Primeiro de Março 66, Centro — CLOSED today — Reopens Thu/Fri — Free
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Vetores-Vertentes: 170 works by 11 women photographers from Pará — one of the decade’s most significant Brazilian photography shows. Viva Mauricio: immersive Turma da Mônica experience, 415,000+ visitors. Japanese Cinema Festival also running. All free. Mark them for reopening later this week.
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MAM Rio — Daniel Buren & More
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Av. Infante Dom Henrique 85, Aterro — CLOSED — Reopens later this week
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Daniel Buren’s Voile/Toile – Toile/Voile (first Brazilian edition), Carmen Portinho retrospective, and “100 Years of Art: Gilberto Chateaubriand.” Also closed today: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Museu do Amanhã. Check individual websites for exact reopening dates.
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04
\nTransport & Getting Around
\nKnow before you go
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MetrôRio
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24H UNTIL MIDNIGHT
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Still running 24h — the 139h nonstop operation ends at midnight tonight. Linha 2: Pavuna–General Osório. Linhas 1+4: Uruguai–Jardim Oceânico/Barra. Estação Saara/Presidente Vargas reopens today (was closed Sat–Tue). Normal service resumes Thursday 5h. Next 24h: Sat 21 (5h) to Sun 22 (23h) for Desfile das Campeãs.
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VLT Carioca
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NORMAL OPERATION
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Normal weekday operation resumes today. Lines 2 and 4 back through Centro (were diverted Sun–Tue for blocos). Linha Cocotá has special operation today.
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Buses & BRT
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RESIDUAL CLOSURES
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BRT lines 60 and 80 continue 24h. Residual Carnaval road closures through the morning, particularly around Av. Presidente Vargas and Sapucaí. Check Mobi-Rio and Rio Ônibus apps for real-time updates.
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Barcas & Rideshare
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Arariboia, Charitas, Paquetá, Divisão Sul: normal weekday schedule. Cocotá: special operation. Rideshare apps should be manageable today — Carnaval surge pricing subsiding.
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Transport tip: For the Fan Fest at Copacabana, take MetrôRio to Cardeal Arcoverde or Siqueira Campos. For the Rio Open at Jockey Club, a ride-hail app is recommended — no metro station adjacent. MetrôRio Posto de Gratuidade (Central) closed through today (Feb 13–18); resumes tomorrow.
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05
\nFood & Drink
\nWhere to eat
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Post-Carnaval Recovery
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→ Caldo verde, feijoada, açaí — traditional post-folia restoration food
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→ Bar do Mineiro, Santa Teresa — classic if open. Boteco Belmonte branches (Zona Sul) typically reopen early
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→ Shopping mall food courts: safest bet for lunch if local spots still shuttered
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Event Dining
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→ Rio Open Leblon Boulevard at Jockey Club: Francese, Jappa da Quitanda, Benola Burger — curated food alongside the tennis
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→ Fan Fest Copacabana: food stalls and lanchonetes from 14h. Arrive early for best options
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→ Copacabana/Leblon beachfront quiosques remain open for a proper sit-down with a view
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06
\nPractical Information
\nNeed to know
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Money & Banking
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→ Banks reopen today from 12h. Boletos due Feb 16–17 payable today without penalty
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→ B3 reopens today at 13h (pré-abertura 12h45, session to 17h55). Pix and ATMs function 24/7
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→ Shopping malls reopen normal hours. Restaurants reopening — reduced hours possible in morning
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Government & Services
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→ Ponto facultativo until 14h. Most government offices resume after 14h. Private employers set own rules
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→ MetrôRio Posto de Gratuidade (Central) closed through today. Resumes tomorrow
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→ MetrôRio lost and found: achados e perdidos via MetrôRio website or app
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07
\nCommunity & Expat Life
\nConnect
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Apuração Watch Parties
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→ Fan Fest Copacabana — best free option. Arrive by 14h to secure a spot near the telão
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→ Casarão do Firmino, Lapa (from 13h) — indoor telão, live samba, collaborative entry. More intimate than the beach
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→ Any botequim with a TV — the apuração is a communal event across the whole city
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Looking Ahead
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→ Desfile das Campeãs: Sat 21 from 22h35 at Sapucaí — top 6 schools return. Tickets via official Sapucaí sales site
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→ Pós-Carnaval blocos run through Sun 22. Monobloco traditionally closes the season
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→ Museums fully reopen later this week — plan your cultural catch-up
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08
\nSports
\nScores & fixtures
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Cariocão 2026 — Semifinalists Confirmed
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→Semifinal 1: Flamengo vs Madureira. Ida: Sun 22 (Madureira mando, at Maracanã). Volta: early March
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→Semifinal 2: Fluminense vs Vasco. Ida: Sun 22. Volta: late Feb/early March
→ Taça Guanabara: Fluminense (15 pts). Taça Rio: Boavista, Volta Redonda, Botafogo, Bangu. Final: March 7 or 8
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Other Sports
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→ Rio Open: see §03 above. Day 5, oitavas. Fonseca plays doubles today, singles oitavas Thu
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→ Sul-Americano de Clubes de Vôlei Feminino begins today
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→ Coutinho reportedly requested contract rescission from Vasco — developing story
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→ Brasileirão Série A paused for Carnaval. No matches today
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Sports note: No live football in Rio today. The Cariocão produced a classic Fla-Flu semifinal matchup, with Flamengo dispatching Botafogo 2-1 and Fluminense beating Bangu 3-1. At the Rio Open, João Fonseca’s 7-6(1) 6-1 win over Monteiro was the highlight of Tuesday — his first singles victory of 2026. He faces Buse (PER) on Thursday.
→ Ibovespa: last close 186,464 (-0.69%, Fri 13 Feb). Intraday record 190,561 on Feb 11. Week: +1.92%. YTD: +15.73%
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→ USD/BRL: R$5.23 at close (+0.60% on the day). Real at its strongest in nearly a year against the dollar
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→ Selic: 15.00% per annum. Foreign inflows: R$33+ billion into Brazilian equities in 2026 (through 11 Feb) — already exceeding R$25.4B for all of 2025
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→ Banks reopen today from 12h. Pix and ATMs function 24/7
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Market trend: The Ibovespa enters the post-Carnaval period after hitting a record 190,561 intraday on Feb 11 before profit-taking. The real has strengthened to its best levels since May 2024, driven by massive foreign institutional flows. B3’s shortened Cinzas session (13h–17h55) is the first trading opportunity since Friday’s close.
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10
\nWeek Ahead
\nPlan ahead
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Post-Carnaval Week (Thu–Sun)
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→ Thu Feb 19 — Full normal weekday resumes. MetrôRio regular schedule from 5h. Série Ouro apuração at Novotel. Rio Open continues: Fonseca vs Buse in oitavas. Museums begin reopening
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→ Fri Feb 20 — Rio Open quartas de final from 16h at Jockey Club. Escolas mirins desfile at Sapucaí. Pós-Carnaval blocos begin this weekend
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→ Sat Feb 21 — Desfile das Campeãs at Sapucaí from 22h35 — top six Grupo Especial schools return. MetrôRio 24h (5h Sat to 23h Sun). Rio Open semis and doubles final from 17h. Tickets via liesa.org.br
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→ Sun Feb 22 — Rio Open final de simples at 17h30. Cariocão semifinal ida: Flamengo vs Madureira and Fluminense vs Vasco. Monobloco closes the pós-Carnaval season
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→ Looking further — Cariocão semifinal volta: late Feb/early March. Final: March 7 or 8 (single match). Museums fully reopen this week
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Looking ahead: This afternoon’s apuração closes the competitive Carnaval season. The Desfile das Campeãs on Saturday 21 is your last chance to see the top schools perform — tickets via liesa.org.br. On the streets, pós-Carnaval blocos run through Sunday 22, when Monobloco traditionally closes the season. The Rio Open reaches its climax this weekend with the final on Sunday at 17h30. The city returns to full normal operations on Thursday.
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Rio de Janeiro Daily Brief — Wednesday, February 18, 2026
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A culture-first daily guide for locals and expats in the Cidade Maravilhosa.
