From Bethany to Laíla: the parades that marked the last titles of the Special Group

The Special Group parades carry, each edition, a combination of expectation, memory and renewal. In the Samba Passarella, the recent past serves as a thermometer to measure the requirement level of the present. The last champions of the Special Group help to understand how the show evolved in the plots, aesthetics and way of telling stories, pointing paths to what the public expects to see again on the avenue. Come check with us on the last parades that are already eternal in the gallery of historical moments of the Greatest show on Earth.

2016

Carnaval 2016 - Hose - Liesa Fat Press

The First Mangueira Station was the champion of the Special Group of the Carnaval 2016. To close a 14-year-old fast, the clubbing brought the plot “Maria Bethania: Oyá’s Eye Girl”, signed by carnivalesco Leandro Vieira, honoring the five decades of career of singer Maria Bethânia. That year, in addition to Mangueira, União da Tijuca, Portela, Salgueiro, Beija-Flor and Empress were present on Saturday of the Champions.

2017

Carnaval 2017 - Portela and Youth - Luiz Alvarenga and Fernando Grili/ Riotur

In this edition, two associations shared the maximum glory of the Rio Carnaval. Portela broke a 33-year-old untitled fast by taking the plot to Sapucaí “Who Never Felt the Body Chill To See This River Pass...”, which addressed the historical relationship of humanity with rivers, passing by legends and religiosities. The other champion was the Independent Youth of Father Miguel, who made a connection with Morocco through the plot “The Thousand and One Nights of a ‘Mobility’ beyond Marrakech” Empress, Grande Rio, Salgueiro and Beija-Flor joined Portela and Youth in the Champions' Parade.

2018

Carnaval Rio 2018 - Beija-Flor - Raphael David Riotur

With strong social criticism in the plot “Monster is one who does not know how to love (the abandoned children of the homeland who gave birth to them)”, the Beija-Flor joined references to the novel Frankenstein to Brazilian social ills and won its 14th title of the Carnaval. The school took to the emblematic avenue, such as that of the “roads of the public coffers” and that of the “wolfs in sheep’s clothing”, alluding to the political class. Tuiuti Paradise, Willow, Portela, Mangueira and Youth completed the Top 6 and closed the party on Saturday of the Champions.

2019

Carnaval 2019 - Mangueira - Acervo LIESA

With the plot “History for Ninar Big People”, Mangueira again won the title of Carnaval carioca for the 20th time. The green and pink promoted a review of official history, exalting neglected popular leaders, and deconstructing figures traditionally treated as heroic. In addition to Mangueira, Viradouro, Vila Isabel, Portela, Salgueiro and Youth paraded on Saturday of the Champions.

2020

Carnaval 2020 - Vidour - Fernando Grilli / Riotur

The story of the Itapuã Winners group led the United of the Viradouro to win its second title. With the plot “Washed Soul Turner”, the school of Niterói presented the legacy of black women who washed clothes in Lagoa do Abaeté, in Salvador, and carried out other works in search of the purchase of their saddlebags. The Top 6 was completed by Grande Rio, Youth, Kiss-Flor, Willow and Mangueira.

2021

Due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Special Group parades were cancelled this year.

2022

Carnaval 2022 - Academics of the Great Rio

On the return of the parades after the pandemic, the Academics of the Great Rio won their first championship by celebrating the Afro-Brazilian traditions with the plot “Speak, Majete! Seven Exu Keys”. The Association of the Baixada Fluminense honored the divinity Exu and fought religious intolerance, demystifying prejudices against religions of African origin. In addition to Grande Rio, Beija-Flor, Viradouro, Vila Isabel, Portela and Salgueiro paraded on Saturday of the Champions.

2023

Empress Gabriel Monteiro Riotur

The “King of Cangaço” made Empress Leopoldinense celebrate a title again after more than two decades. With the plot “The Aperreio of the goat that the excommunicated treated with badness and the most holy gave no guard”, inspired by string literature about Lampião's fate after death, the school conquered the avenue. The Champions' Parade also featured Viradouro, Vila Isabel, Beija-Flor, Mangueira and Grande Rio.

2024

Viradouro - Photo Marco Terranova/ Riotur

The Viradouro tricampeonato came with the plot “Arroboboi, Dangbé”, who presented the serpents as an object of worship in African traditions. In belief systems like that of the fast nation, the reptile symbolizes regeneration, life, transformation and resumption. In addition to the school of Niterói, Imperatriz, Grande Rio, Salgueiro, Portela and Vila Isabel returned for the Saturday of the Champions.

2025

Carnaval 2025 - Hummingbird - Photo Alexandre Loureiro / Riotur

The homage to the legacy of the carnivalesco Laíla assured the Beija-Flor of Nilópolis its 15th championship. With the plot “Laíla de Todos os Santos, Laíla de Todos Sambas”, the school celebrated faith in Xangô and the trajectory of the carnival, culminating in a symbolic reunion with Joãosinho Thirty in the spiritual plane. The parade also marked the farewell of Neguinho da Beija-Flor da Marquis de Sapucaí. In addition to the champion, Mangueira, Portela, Viradouro, Imperatriz and Grande Rio participated in the Saturday of the Champions.

With this recent retrospect, this year's Carnaval arrives surrounded by high expectations. On February 15, 16 and 17, new stories will be told on three nights of parades that promise to enter the story of the Marquis de Sapucaí. Check it out. Here. the full schedule.