Carnaval Data: Carnaval 2026 should move R$ 5.9 billion in the Rio economy, estimates Prefeitura do Rio

The Carnaval 2026 should move about R $ 5.9 billion in the economy of the city of Rio, according to the estimate of the City Hall. The projection considers a total audience of approximately 8 million revelries, distributed among the parades of samba schools in the Sambódromo and the Intendente Magalhães, street blocks, popular dances and traditional events, such as those held in Cinelandia and Avenida Chile.

The period analyzed goes from the pre-Carnaval, started on January 17, until the official closure of the party, on February 22, Sunday after the Saturday of the Champions. The data is part of the fifth edition of the publication Data Carnaval, elaborated by the Municipal Secretariat of Economic Development (SMDE), the Civil House, through the João Goulart Foundation Institute (FJG) and the Riotur. The study considers the expenses of residents and visitors with accommodation, transportation, food, events and other services directly or indirectly linked to the Carnaval.

Another highlight of the survey is the return in municipal fundraising in days of party: in economic return, the municipal collection of ISS from services directly or indirectly linked to the Carnaval revolves around R$ 240 million. Only the tourism and events sectors account for more than R $ 47 million of this fundraiser in the month of the party.

The City Hall applies about R$ 100 million annually to the Carnaval, including cultural incentives to samba schools — Special Group, Gold Series, Minor Schools and Intendant Magellan parades — in addition to the operation of the event and the maintenance of the Sambódromo. Between 2022 and 2026, cultural incentives to the Special Group totaled R$ 137.3 million, in values deflated by the IPCA of December 2025.

The operation of the Carnaval involves broad mobilization of the City Hall, with the participation of 23 municipal agencies and about 32,000 public servants. Most of this contingent consists of professionals from Comlurb, with 13.1 thousand workers, and the Municipal Guard, with 12.5 thousand agents.

Carnaval street maintains leading role

The publication also provides detailed analysis of the Carnaval of Rua. In 2026, more than 450 blocks are planned, totaling about 1,786 hours of presentations and estimated audience of almost 7 million revelers. Of the total parades, 40.2% occur in the pre-Carnaval, 51.5% during the official week and 8.3% in the post-Carnaval.

Megablocks — 11 in total — concentrate about 53% of the estimated audience, with an average of 180,000 people per parade and exclusive performance at the Center. The traditional blocks, more numerous (419), gather approximately 46% of the foliões, with an estimated average of 4,000 people. About 37% of registered blocks have fewer than 500 people.

The majority of the total public, about 81%, participates in blocks with displacement, a characteristic common to megablocks.

Saturday, February 7, concentrates the largest number of registered blocks (59). In the official week, 57 blocks are expected on Saturday, 55 on Sunday and 55 on Tuesday. Saturday and Tuesday of Carnaval concentrate the largest audiences, with expected close to 1 million revelries a day.

Regarding the hours, 17.2% of the blocks parade in the morning, 44.3% in the afternoon and 38.4% at night. The highest number of concentrations occurs at 5pm, followed by 6pm and 3pm. Still, it is in the morning that the highest concentration of the public is observed, especially in the Center, driven by megablocks, which traditionally start between 8am and 9am.

The dynamics varies according to the region: in the Center, the peak occurs in the morning; in the South Zone, the parades start early and register a new increase in public in the late afternoon; in the Barra da Tijuca, there is a higher concentration at the end of the day.

The study also points to the renewal of the Street Carnaval. In 2026, there are 33 newer blocks, distributed among 21 neighborhoods, with an estimated audience of about 70 thousand foliões. Of these, 15 debut in the pre-Carnaval, 15 during the Carnaval and three in the post-Carnaval.

Tradition remains strong. The largest and oldest block in the city is the Black Ball Cordon, founded in 1919. Other historical blocks include the Ipanema Band (1965), Banda da Glória (1979), Bloc do Cachorro Cansado (1981) and Carmelitas (1990).

The total number of parades remains stable compared to the previous year: there are 458 blocks in 2026, against 457 in 2025. About 80% of the blocks that paraded last year return to the streets. Overall, the growth of pre-Carnaval and the increase in the average audience indicate an even more busy party this year.

The full study is available in Data Carnaval 2026 and on the websites observatorioeconomic. river and Repertory. river.