The Beija-Flor samba school has taken home the crown after an electrifying competition at Rio de Janeiro's renowned carnival parade. The Sambadrome arena buzzed with excitement as thousands gathered to watch the fabulous performances of the top 12 samba schools. Beija-Flor clinched the title for the 15th time, triumphing over Grande Rio. Their stunning performance was not only a celebration of samba but also a heartfelt homage to their late director, Luiz Fernando Ribeiro do Carmo (or Laíla), who sadly passed away in June 2021 from Covid-19.
The vibrant parade, filled with massive floats and stunning pyrotechnic displays, showcased dancers adorned in extraordinary costumes, including devil figures that captivated the audience. The judges, numbering 40 in total, meticulously critiqued performances across 10 different categories.
Among the competitors, Paraíso do Tuiuti stole the show with dancers shimmering in feathers, while Vila Isabel presented a captivating contrast with their ethereal ghosts dressed in white. Grande Rio, coming in a close second, had onlookers mesmerized by their attention to detail. Also making a mark was Mocidade, whose giant puppet and futuristic costumes wowed the crowd, inspired by their theme, "Back To The Future - There Are No Limits Dreaming."
Imperatriz placed third with an eye-catching array of gold and white skulls, while Portela's tribute to the legendary 82-year-old musician Milton Nascimento added a heartwarming touch to the festivities. However, despite the incredible effort, Unidos de Padre Miguel found themselves at the bottom of the rankings and will not compete in the upcoming 2026 parade. As the dancers and floats lit up Rio, the spirit of samba and togetherness reigned supreme.
The vibrant parade, filled with massive floats and stunning pyrotechnic displays, showcased dancers adorned in extraordinary costumes, including devil figures that captivated the audience. The judges, numbering 40 in total, meticulously critiqued performances across 10 different categories.
Among the competitors, Paraíso do Tuiuti stole the show with dancers shimmering in feathers, while Vila Isabel presented a captivating contrast with their ethereal ghosts dressed in white. Grande Rio, coming in a close second, had onlookers mesmerized by their attention to detail. Also making a mark was Mocidade, whose giant puppet and futuristic costumes wowed the crowd, inspired by their theme, "Back To The Future - There Are No Limits Dreaming."
Imperatriz placed third with an eye-catching array of gold and white skulls, while Portela's tribute to the legendary 82-year-old musician Milton Nascimento added a heartwarming touch to the festivities. However, despite the incredible effort, Unidos de Padre Miguel found themselves at the bottom of the rankings and will not compete in the upcoming 2026 parade. As the dancers and floats lit up Rio, the spirit of samba and togetherness reigned supreme.
