Carnival Special Group | Samba Parade | RioCarnaval.org
Special Group: Where the Magic Happens
The Twelve Best Schools Create the Special Group That is Definitely Worth Watching
The Special Group parades on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, featuring the best of the best of all the Samba schools in Rio de Janeiro.
These are the most expensive parades to watch and the crème de la crème of Rio de Janeiro Carnival. The events are telecast worldwide and are considered the high point of Carnival not only in Brazil, but around the world. The performances are extravagant, with Rio Carnival designers competing to outdo each other.
Alexandre Macieira | Riotur
The 2027 Special Group - The parade of the parades
The participants for the 2027 Special Group Samba parade are listed in the order of their appearance at the Rio Sambodromo. In 2027, the Special Group parades take place on February 7th, 8th, and 9th.
According to the event regulations, the winner of the previous year’s Série Ouro opens the Special Group parade on Sunday, while the two samba schools with the lowest scores in the previous Carnival parade first on Monday and Tuesday.
There are several strict regulations that the Samba schools must keep in mind when preparing for their parade. For example, besides the 9 categories in which they will be judged, each group must parade for a minimum of 70 minutes and must not exceed a maximum of 80 minutes. For every minute not used to complete 70 minutes, or for every minute exceeding the 80-minute mark, the Samba school loses one-tenth of a point.
Rules also exist regarding the number of participants in each discipline. A minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 performers can make up the Front Commission, while a school must have at least 200 percussionist drummers. Failure to comply with these regulations will cost the school half a point.
These and several other guidelines are laid out in the official Carnival Regulation book that is published every year.
Special Group parade tickets
You can opt for either assigned seats or unmarked ones at the Sambodromo. The unmarked seats in the Grandstand are the most economical. The benefit of assigned seats is that you can leave your seat and return as you like, without worrying about someone claiming it.
“Allocated Chairs” are the most affordable assigned seats and offer an open-air theater view of the parade in Sector 12.
If you are looking for a comfortable option with the best location, a Front Box or ‘frisa’ might be the best choice for you. These boxes contain 6 chairs, and you can buy an individual ticket package for one of them. There are 4 rows, A to D, with A and B closest to the runway and C and D behind but more elevated. In Sectors 12 and 13, the seating extends to Row E and Row H respectively, offering more affordable seating options.
