Rio Carnival 2026 Winners: Viradouro Crowned Champion in Historic EditionRio Carnival 2026 Winners: Viradouro Crowned Champion
The Rio Carnival 2026 winners were announced on Ash Wednesday after the vote count of the Grupo Especial at Cidade do Samba in Rio de Janeiro. Unidos do Viradouro secured the championship title with 270 points.
This edition stood out as the largest in the city’s history. As a result, it reinforced Rio Carnival’s position as the world’s most iconic samba competition.
Viradouro Leads the Rio Carnival 2026 Winners Ranking
Viradouro finished first with 270 points. Meanwhile, Beija-Flor and Vila Isabel followed closely, both scoring 269.9 points. Salgueiro placed fourth with 269.7 points. Imperatriz reached 269.4, and Mangueira completed the top six with 269.2 points.
As tradition dictates, the six highest-ranked schools will return to the Sambadrome on Saturday, February 21. There, they will perform once again during the Desfile das Campeãs at Marquês de Sapucaí.
Viradouro’s Winning Parade
Viradouro presented the theme “Para cima, Ciça!” and honored Mestre Ciça, whose full name is Moacyr da Silva Pinto. The tribute celebrated his 70 years and highlighted his status as the longest-serving mestre de bateria currently active.
During the parade, Ciça appeared in the opening comissão de frente. Later, he conducted the percussion section from the final float. Over the years, he has also led the baterias of Unidos da Tijuca, Grande Rio, União da Ilha and Estácio de Sá, where his career began in 1988.
This victory marks Viradouro’s fourth title in the Grupo Especial. Previously, the school won its most recent championship in 2024.
Full Ranking of the Grupo Especial
Behind the top six, Unidos da Tijuca and Grande Rio both scored 268.7 points. Next, Tuiuti earned 268.5 points. Portela received 267.9, while Mocidade finished with 267.4. Finally, Acadêmicos de Niterói placed last with 264.6 points.
Because of this result, Acadêmicos de Niterói will compete in Série Ouro next season.
What Carnival and the Parades Represent for Rio
Beyond the competition itself, Carnival represents one of the strongest cultural expressions of Rio de Janeiro. The samba school parades at the Sambadrome combine music, dance, storytelling and visual arts. In addition, they mobilize entire communities.
Each school prepares its theme, costumes, floats and samba-enredo throughout the year. Therefore, the final scores reflect months of coordinated work involving thousands of participants.
For the city, Carnival generates international visibility and strengthens Rio’s cultural identity. In 2026, the largest edition in history once again demonstrated the scale and global relevance of the event.
