Rio Nightlife Guide for Friday, February 13, 2026

Why we picked it: The Série Ouro is the opening act of the greatest show on earth — and tonight, seven schools cross the 700 metres of the Passarela do Samba fighting for a place in the Grupo Especial. This is where the hunger lives. These are the schools from the communities of Jacarezinho, Belford Roxo, Padre Miguel, and the Ilha do Governador — places where samba is not performance but identity. The ordem de desfile: Unidos do Jacarezinho, Inocentes de Belford Roxo, União do Parque Acari, Unidos de Bangu, Unidos de Padre Miguel, União da Ilha, and Vigário Geral. Each school has around 80 minutes to tell its enredo in sound, costume, allegory, and movement. The energy in the Sambódromo on the first night is something that the Grupo Especial, for all its grandeur, cannot replicate: raw ambition, community pride, and the pure, thundering sound of a bateria with nothing to lose.

Practicalities: Arquibancada tickets (R$35) are officially sold out via Ticketmaster, but secondary-market options may still appear — check carefully for legitimacy. Gates open well before the first school. Bring water, sunscreen if arriving early, and earplugs for the front sectors. Children aged 5+ need tickets. No glass. The Sambódromo is accessible via Praça Onze metrô (L1-Laranja) — and remember, the metrô runs 24 hours from today until Quarta-feira de Cinzas.

Why we picked it: The Terreirão do Samba Nelson Sargento is the best-kept secret that everyone knows about. Sitting right beside the Sambódromo on the Praça Onze — the birthplace of samba itself — the Terreirão runs parallel to the desfiles with its own marathon of live music promoted by the Sesc RJ. Tonight’s lineup opens with DJ FM O Dia from 20:00, followed by Fabinho at 21:30, the Velha Guarda Musical da Vila Isabel from 23:30, Bokaloka from 01:10, and headliner Suel taking the Palco João da Baiana from 02:50 until 04:20. At R$30 inteira, it is the most accessible night of live samba and pagode in the city during Carnaval — and the proximity to the Sambódromo means you can feel the vibration of the baterias through the ground while Suel sings. The Terreirão runs five consecutive nights through to Terça-feira de Carnaval, with Ferrugem on Sunday and Belo on Monday.

Practicalities: Gates at 20:00. Tickets via bilheteriadigital.com or at the door. 18+ (minors 16+ with legal guardian only). The space expects around 50,000 visitors across the Carnaval period. Food and drink vendors on site. Praça Onze metrô (L1-Laranja) is directly adjacent. Combine with the Série Ouro desfiles — walk between the two venues in minutes.

Why we picked it: This is the final rehearsal before the Monobloco takes the streets. Created in 2000 from a percussion workshop, the Monobloco has become one of the defining forces of Rio’s Carnaval de rua — and tonight, in the 5,000-capacity arena of the Fundição Progresso beneath the Arcos da Lapa, the full bateria delivers the last dress rehearsal under the baton of maestro Celso Alvim. The 2026 theme is “Pode entrar que a casa é sua” — an open invitation that captures the inclusive spirit of the block. The repertoire moves through classics like “Taj Mahal,” “Fio Maravilha,” and “Explode Coração,” with tributes to Arlindo Cruz and Preta Gil. Tonight’s guest is the Bloco Estratégia, celebrating 14 years of Afro-Brazilian culture with a sound that crosses bailes black, terreiro rhythms, samba, and maculelê. DJ Nicole Nandes warms and closes.

Practicalities: House opens at 20:00. Tickets from R$120 via fundicaoprogresso.com.br or Ingresse. 18+. The Fundição Progresso sits on Rua dos Arcos, 24, directly beneath the Arcos da Lapa — one of Rio’s most iconic locations. Cinelândia metrô (L1-Laranja / L2-Verde) is a 10-minute walk. The Lapa bar strip is immediately outside the door. The Monobloco’s Carnaval desfile takes place on February 22 in the Circuito Preta Gil, Centro — tonight is your preview.

Why we picked it: On the first Friday of Carnaval, the Lapa doesn’t need a programme — it becomes the programme. The Boêmios da Lapa, one of the neighbourhood’s own blocos, concentrates at 17:00 on Praça Cardeal Câmara and parades through the streets that have been Rio’s bohemian soul since the early 20th century. But the bloco is just the ignition. By nightfall, the entire strip along Rua Joaquim Silva, Rua do Lavradio, and the Praça beneath the Arcos transforms into an open-air Carnaval party — samba bars spilling onto the street, live music from every doorway, spontaneous rodas forming on the cobblestones. Carioca da Gema, Rio Scenarium, and dozens of smaller bars and botequins compete for your attention. The Lapa on Carnaval Friday is chaos, joy, and music in equal measure — and it costs nothing to walk in.

Practicalities: Boêmios da Lapa bloco is free. Bars charge their own covers (typically R$10–30 on Carnaval nights). Stay aware of your belongings — Lapa is bustling and pickpockets operate in crowds. Don’t bring valuables. Cinelândia metrô (L1/L2) is the closest station. Ride-hailing drop-offs work best on Rua da Lapa or Rua do Passeio. The Fundição Progresso (Monobloco) is literally within the Lapa strip — combine the two.

Why we picked it: The Bloco das Carmelitas officially opens the Carnaval de rua of Rio de Janeiro 2026. Founded in 1990 to honour socialite Laurinda Santos Lobo, whose legendary house hosted Santa Teresa’s most famous parties, the Carmelitas is part of the Sebastiana association of blocos and has been parading down the ladeiras of the city’s most bohemian bairro for over three decades. The tradition: foliões dress as Carmelite nuns and dance through the steep, winding streets of Santa Teresa, past the tile-fronted colonial houses, past the Parque das Ruínas, past the Bar do Mineiro. The bloco is a member of the Sebastiana group and represents the essence of Carnaval de rua carioca — democratic, joyful, and completely free. Today it concentrates at 15:00 on the Ladeira de Santa Teresa and rolls downhill. A second desfile follows on Terça-feira (17 February).

Practicalities: Free. No ticket needed. The bloco concentrates on the Ladeira de Santa Teresa and moves through the neighbourhood. Santa Teresa has extremely limited parking — take metrô to Largo do Machado or Gloria and taxi/ride-hail up the hill. Wear comfortable shoes — the ladeiras are steep and slippery. Bring only what you can carry. Don’t drive up — the bairro is historic, narrow, and will be packed.