Latin Analysis: How Rio’s Carnival Shapes Local Communities and Culture
polina kovaleva
As Brazil’s 2026 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro draws to a close, it is worth examining what makes gives this particular festival its reputation of “the greatest show on earth”. This means exploring not just its history, but also the ways Carnival affects local communities – from boosting businesses and fostering social and cultural connections to the lesser-known challenges that often go unnoticed. To truly understand the festival, we must look beyond the parades and samba dancers to the neighborhoods, workers, and traditions that make it all possible.
What Carnival Looks Like This Year
Every year, Rio de Janeiro is home to a vast, citywide festival where culture, dance, and music meet, attracting millions of visitors from around the world. This year, carnival officially took place in Rio de Janeiro from February 13 to February 21, featuring events ranging from the elite samba-school parades at the Sambadrome to hundreds of neighborhood street parties, known as blocos. As the festivities kicked off, over 460 street parades were scheduled, and the city braced for an estimated six to eight million attendees – apart from residents, tourist inflows make up a large proportion of the crowds, in particular arriving from Argentina, Uruguay, and Europe. Rio’s downtown area typically sees the most parades, as well as the Copacabana beachfront, which alone had 99 events planned.
The most elaborate performances occur mid-festival, when the top-tier samba schools present choreographed themes judged on music, costumes and storytelling, followed days later by a final champions’ parade. But for many locals, the real carnival unfolds in neighborhood streets, where bands, dancers and costumed families fill public spaces for days at a time.
To prepare for the massive crowds, city authorities stepped up security and accessibility, in coordination with the police and fire departments, and medical services. Over the years, as carnival attracted more people, infrastructure has adapted to improve mobility and emergency responses during the carnival period. Every year, the city mobilizes around 300 traffic officers only to manage the passage of the parades. Despite this, unofficial blocos without permits usually can parade anyway, with the police ready to manage the inevitable chaos – but the result is an “organized mayhem” that draws together families, tourists and locals across age and class lines.
The local government of Rio de Janeiro has estimated the carnival will generate around R$10 billion (roughly $1.7-$1.8 billion USD), reinforcing its role as one of the most important economic events in the country. This seasonal spending drives demand across accommodation, restaurants, transport, retail and entertainment. The festival also extends beyond Rio. Parallel celebrations in cities like Salvador and Recife attract large crowds of their own, with Carnival being a national season rather than a single event.
It is a symbolic moment for the city, one of cultural expression and communities that begins in the local neighbourhoods and extends outward into the streets, occupying public spaces and reshaping daily life, and showcasing the creativity, identity, and diversity of Brazil.
The History Of Carnival
Carnival’s modern spectacle is the result of several cultural layers accumulated over centuries, with its origins inseparable from Brazil’s colonial past and the transatlantic slave trade.
The earliest forms of Carnival developed in Europe as a pre-Lent celebration marking the beginning of a fasting period in the Catholic calendar. Portuguese colonizers carried the tradition to Brazil, where an early version called Entrudo became popular. Participants engaged in public games, such as water fights or throwing flour, eggs, or mud at one another in raucous street celebrations.
In the 19th century, this gradually gave way to more structured festivities. Masquerade balls appeared, influenced by European carnivals, while ordinary residents organized processions featuring costumes, percussion, and pageantry. These events were mainly reserved for Brazil’s elite, so other popular festivities emerged around this time, which had a more wide-ranging array of participants. Cordões were one such tradition, resembling religious processions but with a more festive atmosphere, including musicians and costumes. These evolved into ranchos, which featured decorated carts and a costumed king and queen to lead the parade. The cordões and ranchos played a significant role in the origins of the samba schools.
In the early 20th century, local samba enthusiasts began forming clubs and associations to share their passion. These gatherings evolved into formal samba schools, with each school representing its community through elaborate music, dance, and costumes. The first samba school, Deixa Falar, was founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1928. By 1932, samba schools held the first organized parades, leading to the creation of the Association of Samba Schools of the City, which now oversees the competitions. Rio’s Sambadrome, commissioned in 1984, became the permanent venue for these spectacular parades, featuring a 700m avenue, stands, and amenities for visitors. Today, samba schools continue to compete in dazzling performances, showcasing the rhythm, creativity, and community spirit that define Brazilian Carnival.
Although Carnival traditions originated in Europe, African cultural influence is clearly evident in the Brazilian version we see today. This influence began when Brazil became a Portuguese colony and African people were brought to the country through the transatlantic slave trade. Many Carnival practices adapted African tribal customs, including parading through the village to drive away evil spirits. Costumes and tribal masks became an essential part of the celebrations, and feathers symbolized rebirth and the rise of spirits, elements that continue to be central to modern Brazilian Carnival.
Local Impact
While Carnival is celebrated for its economic and social benefits, its impact on local communities is complex, bringing both opportunities and pressures for the people whose labour sustains the spectacle. The event contributes significantly to Rio’s economy, boosting local businesses and creating thousands of jobs every year. Retailers often hire additional staff to meet the surge in demand, with tens of thousands of temporary jobs created in sectors ranging from hospitality to textiles. Samba schools are also key contributors, employing hundreds of local workers – like carpenters, seamstresses, and electricians – to prepare for the performances.
Carnival saw a two-year hiatus after the coronavirus pandemic hit, leading to the cancellation of the festivities in 2021 and 2022. This disruption highlighted how essential the festival is for low-income communities, as many neighborhoods rely heavily on the revenue generated by samba schools and street parties. The pause in celebrations had both economic and emotional consequences, as communities not only mourned, but also faced financial uncertainty. The return of full-scale Carnival was therefore seen as a revival of cultural life and an important economic reset.
Samba schools are particularly impactful on their local communities. Beyond providing employment, they are hubs for social and cultural activity, with the organization of rehearsals that engage thousands of residents. For example, Unidos de Padre Miguel, a top-tier samba school from the Vila Vintem favela, has invested millions of reais into local jobs and infrastructure. The festival’s growth has also driven improvements in urban planning, from the creation of pedestrian-friendly areas to the construction of facilities like Cidade do Samba 2, where floats and costumes are prepared in safer, better-equipped conditions.
However, despite the economic benefits, labor conditions have posed risks in the past. Costume production and float construction can involve long hours and precarious working environments. On February 12, 2025, a massive fire destroyed the Maximus Confecções textile factory in Ramos, located in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro. These employees were working on costumes of three samba schools taking part in the parades at the sambadrome, but the factory was operating under poor working conditions, and contained highly flammable materials. One person died, and 21 were injured. The incident shows how the scale and pace of Carnival production can put immense pressure on workers and potentially expose them to serious safety hazards, highlighting the human cost behind the festival’s dazzling performances.
Overall, Carnival is more than a festival – it is a cornerstone of Rio’s economy and its local communities. By combining tourism, local commerce, and cultural expression, it sustains livelihoods, energizes neighborhoods, and reinforces the city’s identity as a vibrant cultural hub.