Rio’s Carnival erupted in a whirlwind of music, dance, and colour. The festivities began Friday, with Saturday marking a full day of wild celebration. Even as the sun set, crowds refused to leave Flamengo Beach, lost in the magic of Carnival. “Being Brazilian means being part of this”, said Bruno Mota, 41.

In Paraty, a centuries-old tradition saw hundreds bathe in mud, chanting and dancing along the shore. What began in 1986 as a playful accident is now a beloved ritual.

Across Rio, musicians like Márcio Meirelles rushed between performances, playing for crowds while dressed as Fred Flintstone. The Sons of Gandhi, an Afro-Brazilian drumming group, filled the air with rhythms that carried echoes of history.

Meanwhile, in Barra da Tijuca, the Blocão parade brought a joyful twist- hundreds of dogs in costumes, from superheroes to clowns. To protect them from the scorching pavement, owners kept them in the shade as samba played on.

At Heaven on Earth, revellers paid tribute to late singer Rita Lee, while the Friends of the Jaguar party turned Rio’s streets into a jungle of animal prints and fierce energy.

In São Paulo, samba schools honoured Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous culture, with one dedicating its parade to Martin Luther King Jr. In Santa Teresa, the Carmelitas street party saw revellers dressed as nuns and priests, embracing the city’s tradition of playful rebellion.

Rio’s mayor handed the key to the city to King Momo, marking five days of pure, unrestrained joy.