After 14 years, Cordão do Boitatá returns to Rua First of March

In a mix of feelings, ranging from nostalgia to new expectations, the Cordão do Boitatá will again parade on Rua First of March on February 8, 2026, after 14 years off course. The return of the club to the site that today houses the circuit of Megablocos Preta Gil also marks the celebration of the 30 years of the street orchestra of the procession and 20 years of the Multicultural Ball of Square XV.

“A journey that welcomes the orchestra and all the jokers in a way consistent with the size of the party”, celebrates Kiko Horta, one of the founders of the group.

Horta also occupies the position of musical director of the block and points out that the orchestra has more than 250 blowing musicians, percussion and banjos, who play without sound car, alongside 400 members with their wings of banners, legants and baianas.

“ We are bringing our batucada foot to the ground to scratch the territory of the Center of Rio with much samba, marchinhas, afoxés, creative fantasies and joy. We hope to see this journey in the future occupied by more traditional and important groups for the street carnaval”, complete Kiko.

The traditional courtship of the Boitatá will be the sixth to parade on the Black Gil megablock circuit. Organized by musicians, the group has a vast repertoire of most Brazilian music genres, which attracts thousands of passionate about jumping carnaval.

In a constant reinvention process, the original arrangements of Moacir Santos, Villa-Lobos, Pixinguinha, Maestro Duda, Braguinha and others, created especially for the orchestra, are performed in the performances of the block.

The club is an immaterial heritage of the State of Rio and was awarded the Medal of Merit Pedro Ernesto in 2021.

Multicultural Ball of Square XV

In 2026, the traditional Multicultural Ball of Square XV will take place on February 15, at 10am. The Stage Orchestra has 15 reference musicians from Rio that make the region vibrate for more than seven hours in a row.

Recognized as the musical epicenter in the Center of Rio, it has already participated more than 150 artists and national and international groups, including names such as Martinho da Vila, Marisa Monte, Teresa Cristina, João Donato, Jongo da Serrinha, Yamandú Costa, Hamilton de Holanda, Marcos Sacramento, Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz, Mariana Baltar, Roberta Sá, Rita Benedicto, Mariana Baltar, Marina Iris, Moyses Marques, blocks such as Orummilá and Friends of Onça, as well as international Nneka, Keziah Jones.

See more information about weekend blocks in the Rio 2026 Blocks app and on the website carnivalderua. river.