Coronavirus

Rio de Janeiro greenlights events in at samba schools

rio samba schools carnival coronavirus
Photo: Ciceia Almeida/Shutterstock

In the months leading up to Carnival, samba schools around Brazil find a source of revenue in holding open rehearsals of their performances at the prestigious Carnival parades. Of course, with the 2021 edition of the popular festival set to be delayed, open rehearsals were out of the question — until now. Local government in Rio de Janeiro has authorized the city’s samba schools to hold in-person events from November 1 and beyond.

Tables and chairs will be numbered to avoid overcrowding, and events should follow the sanitary protocols established elsewhere in the city. 

The decision, however, only concerns the schools based inside Rio de Janeiro city proper — while others located on its outskirts depend on specific local legislation.