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Welcome to your Rio de Janeiro daily brief for Saturday, February 21, 2026. Tonight is the grand finale of Carnaval 2026: the Desfile das Campeãs returns to the Sapucaí from 21h, with champion Viradouro closing the parade. At the Jockey Club, the Rio Open reaches its penultimate day with singles semifinals from 17h and the doubles semifinal featuring Fonseca and Melo at ~14h30 — Ignacio Buse continues his sensational run after eliminating both Fonseca and Berrettini, now facing Tabilo for a spot in tomorrow’s final. Friday’s other headline was financial: the Ibovespa smashed through 190,000 points for the first time, closing at a record 190,534 after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s tariffs. The dollar fell to R$5.176, its lowest level since May 2024. MetrôRio runs 24 hours from 5h today through 23h Sunday. 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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24°–29°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
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UV Index
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Extreme
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SPF 50+ essential
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Sat 21
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29°C
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65% rain — Storms PM
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Sun 22
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28°C
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70% rain — Wet
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Mon 23
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28°C
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55% rain — Easing
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Tue 24
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28°C
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50% rain — Drier
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Weather tip: February’s wet season continues with a 65% rain chance this afternoon — expect storms to build after 15h, clearing by late evening. The Desfile das Campeãs (21h) could face passing showers early, though the forecast improves after 22h. For the Rio Open semis (17h at the Jockey Club), bring a compact umbrella and arrive early to avoid any weather-related delays. Sunday is the wettest day at 70% rain. The trend improves from Monday, with rain chances dropping to 55% and then 50% by Tuesday when full city operations resume.
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02
\nDay at a Glance
\nQuick scan
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—DESFILE DAS CAMPEÃS TONIGHT — Sapucaí from 21h. Six schools: Mangueira opens, Viradouro (campeã) closes. Multishow/Globoplay from 21h30. Arquibancadas esgotadas, camarotes still available via liesa.org.br
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—RIO OPEN SEMIS TODAY — Quadra Guga Kuerten from 17h: Etcheverry (8) vs Kopriva, then Buse (PER) vs Tabilo (CHI). Doubles SF (Fonseca/Melo) at ~14h30. SporTV / GE TV (YouTube)
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—IBOVESPA RECORD — Closed at 190,534 (+1.06%), first-ever close above 190k. Dollar fell to R$5.176 (-0.98%), lowest since May 2024. US Supreme Court struck down Trump tariffs. B3 closed today (Saturday)
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—BUSE STUNS BERRETTINI — Peru’s Ignacio Buse beat the Italian 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in a rain-delayed quartas. The 21-year-old eliminated Fonseca and Berrettini back-to-back to reach his first ATP 500 semifinal
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—METRÔRIO 24H — Operating non-stop from 5h today through 23h Sunday. For Sapucaí: odd sectors → Central do Brasil, even sectors → Praça Onze. Estação Saara/Presidente Vargas closed
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—29°C, 65% rain — storms PM, clearing by evening. UV extreme. Umbrella recommended for the Rio Open and Desfile
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The final act of Carnaval 2026 arrives tonight. Viradouro, the tetracampeã that won with 270 points and the enredo Pra cima, Ciça!, will close the parade as is tradition. Meanwhile at the Jockey Club, the tournament that lost Fonseca, Baez, Darderi, and F. Cerundolo has found an unlikely protagonist: Peru’s Ignacio Buse, 91st in the world, who has beaten Fonseca and Berrettini back-to-back to reach his first ATP 500 semifinal. Chile’s Tabilo, who survived a marathon against Tirante (7-6, 6-7, 6-1), stands between Buse and the final. In the other semi, Etcheverry is the sole remaining seed. The markets delivered their own drama: the Ibovespa’s record-smashing session was triggered by the US Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling against Trump’s tariff powers, sending the dollar to a near two-year low.
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03
\nCulture & Events
\nWhat to see & do
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Desfile das Campeãs — The Grand Finale
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Desfile das Campeãs — Tonight
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Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí — Sat 21 Feb from 21h — Multishow / Globoplay from 21h30
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The six best Grupo Especial schools return to the Sapucaí for the celebratory parade. Convidados especiais open from 21h, with schools expected to begin around 22h. Order (inverse of final classification): Mangueira (6th, 269.2 pts), Imperatriz Leopoldinense (5th, 269.4), Salgueiro (4th, 269.7), Vila Isabel (3rd, 269.9), Beija-Flor (vice, 269.9), and Viradouro (campeã, 270 pts, enredo Pra cima, Ciça!). MetrôRio 24h from 5h today through 23h Sunday. Arquibancada tickets are sold out; camarote availability via liesa.org.br and Ticketmaster. CET-Rio traffic operation begins 15h around Sapucaí with closures on Av. Presidente Vargas from Av. Francisco Bicalho.
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Parade order: Mangueira, Imperatriz, Salgueiro, Vila Isabel, Beija-Flor, Viradouro (campeã closes).
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Carnaval Fan Fest Copacabana — Last Night
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Copacabana Beach — Sat 21 Feb from 20h — Free entry
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The final night of the Carnaval Fan Fest at Copacabana will broadcast the Desfile das Campeãs on a giant screen with live music and entertainment. This marks the last official Carnaval event on the beach for 2026. Free entry and open to all ages. The event closes the season’s public celebrations before the city returns to normal routine on Monday.
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Last Carnaval event on Copacabana this season.
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Rio Open 2026 — Semifinals (Day 8)
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Semifinals — Singles
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rioopen.com — Jockey Club Brasileiro, Gávea — Gates 15h — From 17h — SporTV / GE TV
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SF1 — Etcheverry (8/ARG) vs Kopriva (CZE). The sole remaining seed against the Czech qualifier-turned-quarterfinalist. Etcheverry, 51st in the world, beat Faria 7-6(4), 6-4 in the quartas. Kopriva stunned J.M. Cerundolo 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first ATP 500 semi.
\nSF2 — Buse (PER) vs Tabilo (CHI). The story of the tournament: Buse, ranked 91st, eliminated Fonseca (3) and Berrettini back-to-back in rain-delayed thrillers. Tabilo fought past Tirante 7-6(2), 6-7(8), 6-1 in a match that was moved to Quadra 1 due to weather. The winner faces the SF1 survivor in Sunday’s final at 17h30.
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Final: Sunday 22 Feb at 17h30 on Quadra Guga Kuerten.
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Doubles — Semifinals & Final
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Jockey Club Brasileiro — Sat 21 Feb — SporTV 4 / Globoplay (doubles SF) — SporTV 3 (singles)
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Live Market IntelligenceBrazil — Live Market BoardInside: market breadth, the sector heatmap, currencies & rates, the Latin America scoreboard and the full instrument board.
Rio Times · Live Market Intelligence
Brazil — Live Market Board
B3 · São Paulo
Jun 19, 2026 · 10:24
Ibovespa · benchmark
168,300
+0.01%
L 168,213day rangeH 168,313
+22.74% over 12 months
Market breadth · 15 names
67% advancing
10 ▲ advancing5 declining ▼
Currencies, rates & key inputs
Sector heatmap · average move today
Industrials
+2.07%
WEGE3, RENT3
Energy
+0.41%
PETR4, PRIO3
Mining
+0.13%
VALE3, CSNA3, GGBR4
Consumer Disc.
+0.06%
AZZA3
Financials
-0.24%
ITUB4, BBDC4, BBAS3, B3SA3
Consumer Staples
-0.31%
ABEV3
Latin America scoreboard
IndexLastTodayStrength
IbovespaBrazil
168,300
+0.01%
S&P/BMV IPCMexico
68,265
-0.06%
S&P IPSAChile
10,837
+0.24%
S&P MERVALArgentina
3,333,407
+1.26%
MSCI COLCAPColombia
2,406.14
+1.22%
BVL S&P PerúPeru
56,725.28
-2.20%
Full instrument board
| Instrument |
Last |
Change |
YoY |
Prev. |
High |
Low |
Volume |
| IBOV |
168,300 |
+0.01% |
+22.74% |
168,278 |
168,313 |
168,213 |
— |
| USD/BRL |
5.15 |
-0.35% |
-6.13% |
5.17 |
5.17 |
5.14 |
— |
| SELIC |
14.25% |
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| PETR4 |
38.85 |
+0.73% |
+18.37% |
38.57 |
39.09 |
37.41 |
53,243,900 |
| VALE3 |
79.79 |
-0.19% |
+59.84% |
79.94 |
79.80 |
79.50 |
39,900 |
| ITUB4 |
40.49 |
+0.13% |
+13.32% |
40.44 |
41.38 |
40.46 |
20,018,300 |
| BBDC4 |
17.51 |
+0.23% |
+5.29% |
17.47 |
17.52 |
17.50 |
20,300 |
| BBAS3 |
19.53 |
+0.62% |
-8.52% |
19.41 |
19.70 |
19.30 |
23,803,900 |
| B3SA3 |
14.33 |
-1.92% |
+5.21% |
14.61 |
14.72 |
14.21 |
39,768,600 |
| ABEV3 |
16.17 |
-0.31% |
+19.51% |
16.22 |
16.20 |
16.17 |
34,800 |
| WEGE3 |
45.81 |
+4.59% |
+10.30% |
43.80 |
46.23 |
43.81 |
16,140,100 |
| PRIO3 |
57.02 |
+0.09% |
+30.97% |
56.97 |
57.07 |
56.92 |
18,000 |
| SUZB3 |
43.61 |
+0.07% |
-15.92% |
43.58 |
43.81 |
43.48 |
18,300 |
| RENT3 |
39.91 |
-0.45% |
-7.47% |
40.09 |
40.01 |
39.86 |
4,800 |
| AZZA3 |
16.22 |
+0.06% |
-59.70% |
16.21 |
16.38 |
16.14 |
14,800 |
| CSNA3 |
5.22 |
+0.77% |
-33.67% |
5.18 |
5.22 |
5.18 |
291,800 |
| GGBR4 |
21.61 |
-0.18% |
+34.98% |
21.65 |
21.84 |
21.54 |
40,700 |
| ENEV3 |
24.15 |
+0.21% |
+75.64% |
24.10 |
24.15 |
24.02 |
2,200 |
Largest moves today
WEGE3
45.81
+4.59%
B3SA3
14.33
-1.92%
CSNA3
5.22
+0.77%
PETR4
38.85
+0.73%
BBAS3
19.53
+0.62%
RENT3
39.91
-0.45%
USD/BRL
5.15
-0.35%
ABEV3
16.17
-0.31%
The session read
The Ibovespa rose 0.01%, with breadth positive — 10 of 15 names higher. Industrials led, while Consumer Staples lagged.
From The Rio Times
Related coverage · 19 Jun 2026
Silvio Tini Becomes Top Shareholder of Brazil’s Pão de Açúcar Owner
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SF — Fonseca/Melo (BRA) vs Schnaitter/Wallner (GER) — scheduled for approximately 14h30 on Quadra Guga Kuerten. Brazil’s last hope in the tournament. Fonseca and the 42-year-old Melo have been dominant: 6-4 6-4 in R1, 6-4 6-0 in the QF against second-seeded González/Molteni. The Germans edged Heide/Miguel 7-5, 5-7, 11-9.
\nSF — Andreozzi/Guinard vs Frantzen/Haase — the other semi. Andreozzi/Guinard (3) beat Meligeni/Zormann 6-3, 7-6(4).
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\nThe doubles final has been moved to Sunday, following the singles final on Quadra Guga Kuerten.
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Fonseca/Melo: Brazil’s last hope for a Rio Open 2026 title.
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Museums & Exhibitions
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CCBB Rio
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Rua Primeiro de Março, 66, Centro — Wed–Mon 9h–21h — Free
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Vetores-Vertentes — contemporary Brazilian art (through Apr 20). Viva Maurício de Sousa — immersive Turma da Mônica experience. Maldoror cinema programme. CCBB Lab Maker workshops begin today with a quadrinhos (comics) theme.
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MAM Rio & Museu do Amanhã
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Parque do Flamengo / Praça Mauá — Regular Saturday hours
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MAM: Daniel Buren installation and Carmen Portinho retrospective. Open Sat 10h–18h. Museu do Amanhã: Permanent and temporary exhibitions. Open Sat 10h–18h (last entry 17h). Both museums operating normal weekend hours.
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04
\nGetting Around
\nHow to move
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MetrôRio — 24h Operation
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→ 24h service: from 5h Saturday through 23h Sunday (42 hours non-stop). Linha 2: Pavuna–General Osório. Linhas 1/4: Uruguai–Jardim Oceânico/Barra
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→ For Sapucaí: Odd sectors / Terreiro do Samba → Central do Brasil. Even sectors / Correios → Praça Onze
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→ Closures: Estação Saara/Presidente Vargas closed all weekend. Cinelândia: 6h–20h only (embarque: Presidente Wilson access, card required). Catete: embarque by Palácio access only, contactless or pre-purchased card
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→ Tip: Use contactless payment or pre-loaded cards to avoid queues. MetrôRio app for live updates
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Roads & Traffic
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→ Sapucaí closures from 15h: Av. Presidente Vargas blocked from Av. Francisco Bicalho, Viaduto Freyssinet, and Praça da Bandeira. CET-Rio deploys 310 agents, 30 vehicles, 45 motorcycles
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→ No parking: Sambódromo area from 6h Saturday through 12h Sunday. Rua Benedito Hipólito, Rua Presidente Barroso, Rua Júlio do Carmo blocked for float positioning
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→ Rio Open access: Jockey Club Brasileiro, Gávea. Best access via Jardim Botânico or Gávea routes. Avoid Centro if heading to the Jockey before Sapucaí closures
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→ Sunday: Maracanã extensions — Estações Maracanã and São Cristóvão open for embarque until 23h30 for Cariocão matches (Fluminense vs Vasco 18h at Nilton Santos, Flamengo vs Madureira 20h30 at Maracanã)
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05
\nFood & Drink
\nWhere to eat
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Saturday Picks
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→ Before the Desfile: Terreiro do Samba opens early for food and drink near Sapucaí. Street vendors line Av. Presidente Vargas from late afternoon
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→ Rio Open gastro: The Jockey Club food court offers premium options. La Boutique Rio Open (official merchandise and food area) open from gates at 15h
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→ Zona Sul brunch: Saturday is peak brunch day — Talho Capixaba (Leblon), Bakers (Botafogo), and CT Boucherie (Humaitá) all open from 9h
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Hydration & Late-Night
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→ With UV extreme and 29°C, hydration is critical. Carry water to both the Jockey Club and Sapucaí
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→ Post-Desfile: Lapa bars stay open late. Expect heavy foot traffic from Sapucaí towards Centro and Lapa after the last school passes
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→ Supermarkets and bakeries open normal Saturday hours across Zona Sul and Barra
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06
\nPractical Info
\nNeed to know
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Saturday Operations
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→ B3 and banks closed (Saturday). Markets reopen Monday
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→ Government offices, cartórios, Detran: closed (weekend). Full operations resume Monday
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→ Exchange tip: USD/BRL closed Friday at R$5.176 — lowest since May 2024. Casas de câmbio in Copacabana and Ipanema open Saturday mornings
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Expat Essentials
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→ Schools reopen Monday 23 (those observing Carnaval recess). Private offices already back since Thursday/Friday
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→ Pharmacies open normal Saturday hours: Drogaria Pacheco, Raia, Drogasil across Zona Sul
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→ Dengue season reminder: eliminate standing water, use repellent especially at dusk. UPAs and hospitals operating normally
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07
\nCommunity & Lifestyle
\nLocal life
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Last Weekend of Carnaval
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→ Pós-Carnaval blocos may pop up across Zona Sul and Centro — check @carnavalderua and the Blocos do Rio 2026 app for spontaneous events
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→ Sunday megablocos: Bloco da Anitta and Monobloco scheduled for the final day of official street Carnaval
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→ Beach conditions: lifeguards on duty. Seas moderate. UV extreme — hydrate and apply SPF 50+ frequently
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Health & Safety
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→ UPAs and hospitals operating normally. Dengue season: eliminate standing water, use repellent especially at dusk
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→ Pharmacies: all major chains (Drogaria Pacheco, Raia, Drogasil) open normal Saturday hours
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→ Sapucaí safety: CET-Rio and Guarda Municipal will manage crowd flow around the Sambódromo. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep valuables secure, and use the metrô for late-night return
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08
\nSports
\nGame day
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Rio Open Semis — Full Schedule
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→ ~14h30 Doubles SF: Fonseca/Melo (BRA) vs Schnaitter/Wallner (GER) on Quadra Guga Kuerten
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→ From 17h Singles SF1: Etcheverry (8/ARG) vs Kopriva (CZE). Then SF2: Buse (PER) vs Tabilo (CHI)
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→ Doubles final follows singles semis on Quadra Guga Kuerten
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→ Broadcast: SporTV 3 and GE TV (YouTube). Gates 15h. Singles final tomorrow (Sun) at 17h30
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Cariocão & Other Sports
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→ No live football in Rio today. Cariocão semifinal ida tomorrow (Sun 22): Fluminense vs Vasco 18h (Nilton Santos), Flamengo vs Madureira 20h30 (Maracanã)
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→ Brasileirão Série A resumes later this month
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→ Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics ongoing — Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (giant slalom gold for Brazil) remains the country’s top story from the Games
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Sports note: Ignacio Buse is the story of the Rio Open. The 21-year-old Peruvian, ranked 91st, has beaten Fonseca (3), the hometown hero, and Berrettini, the ex-Wimbledon finalist, in consecutive rain-interrupted matches. His semifinal against Chile’s Tabilo — who needed three sets and a match point scare to get past Tirante — will determine whether South America crowns an unexpected champion. In the other half, Etcheverry is the tournament’s sole surviving seed at No. 8, facing Czech surprise Kopriva. None of the four semifinalists has ever won an ATP 500. Fonseca’s last hope is the doubles: he and Melo face the Germans at 14h30 for a spot in the final.
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09
\nBusiness & Markets
\nMarket watch
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→ Ibovespa: closed Friday at 190,534.42 (+1.06%) — first-ever close above 190k, 12th record of 2026. Intraday high: 190,726.78. Weekly gain: +2.18% (seventh consecutive positive week). YTD: +18.25%
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→ USD/BRL: R$5.1759 (-0.98%) — lowest since 28 May 2024. Dollar weakened globally after US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s tariffs (6-3 ruling). Trump responded with plans for 10% global tariff via alternative legal mechanisms
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→ Selic: 15.00%. Fed funds rate: 3.50%–3.75%. Copom next meets March 18–19. Market expects rate cuts to begin. Without tariffs, less US inflation may give the Fed room to cut further
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→ US markets: Dow +0.47% (49,452), S&P 500 +0.69% (6,833), Nasdaq +0.90% (22,597). Rally driven by Supreme Court tariff ruling
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→ Key movers: Financials led — Santander +3.12%, Bradesco +2.02%, BB +2.00%. Vale +3.23% (iron ore strong). Volume: R$36.2 billion (options expiry day)
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Market context: The Ibovespa’s breakthrough above 190,000 was triggered by the US Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling that struck down Trump’s tariffs as an overreach of executive authority. Brazil, alongside China and Canada, is among the biggest beneficiaries, as 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports to the US were effectively cancelled. The dollar plunged globally, and foreign inflows into Brazilian equities — already at R$33+ billion YTD — accelerated. Trump signalled he would pursue a 10% global tariff through alternative legal channels. The Termômetro Broadcast Bolsa showed 50% of professionals expect a pullback next week, up from 12.5%, suggesting short-term caution despite the bullish trend. B3 is closed this weekend and reopens Monday.
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10
\nWeek Ahead
\nPlan ahead
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Sat–Tue Highlights
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→ Today — Desfile das Campeãs from 21h (Sapucaí). Rio Open semis from 17h + doubles final. Fonseca/Melo doubles SF ~14h30. Carnaval Fan Fest Copacabana (last night). CCBB Lab Maker begins
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→ Sun 22 — Rio Open singles final at 17h30. Cariocão semifinal ida: Fluminense vs Vasco 18h (Nilton Santos), Flamengo vs Madureira 20h30 (Maracanã). Last day of official Carnaval street events: Bloco da Anitta, Monobloco. MetrôRio until 23h
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→ Mon 23 — Schools reopen. Full city operations resume. B3 and banks open. Holiday calendar officially ends. Rain eases to 55%
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→ Tue 24 — Série Prata apuração. Normal post-Carnaval calendar fully in effect. Rain drops to 50%
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→ Looking further — Copom Mar 18–19 (potential Selic cut after tariff ruling reshapes expectations). Cariocão semifinal volta late Feb/early March. Final March 7 or 8
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Looking ahead: Tonight’s Desfile das Campeãs is the final act of Carnaval 2026 at the Sapucaí. Champion Viradouro closes the parade. Tomorrow brings the Rio Open final at 17h30 and the first legs of the Cariocão semifinals at Nilton Santos (18h) and Maracanã (20h30). Monday marks the true return to routine: schools reopen, B3 resumes trading, and government offices are fully operational. The financial week ahead will be dominated by the fallout from the US Supreme Court tariff ruling — markets expect Trump to pursue alternative mechanisms, which could introduce fresh volatility. For now, the Ibovespa’s new 190k floor and the dollar below R$5.20 are the numbers to watch.
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Rio de Janeiro Daily Brief — Saturday, February 21, 2026
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A culture-first daily guide for locals and expats in the Cidade Maravilhosa.
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