Public celebrations started out on the streets of Rio on Friday, February 24. This year, Brazil is expecting 1.1 million foreign tourists to visit the Rio Carnival, which ends February 28.
The fascinating parade of top league samba schools began on Sunday. The competition takes place at the Sambadrome, the official venue of the Rio Carnival, where each school represents a specific region of the city. The preparations usually begin a year ahead of the Carnival.
Feel the Carnival's party atmosphere in Sputnik's photo gallery.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoDancers from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
Dancers from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoThe 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
The 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoThe 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
The 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoDancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
Dancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoA dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
A dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoThe 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
The 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoA dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
A dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoDancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
Dancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoA dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
A dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoDancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
Dancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoDancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
Dancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoDancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
Dancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoParticipants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
Participants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoA dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
A dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Gabriel NascimentoA dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Gabriel Nascimento
A dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesA dancer from the Beija-Flor samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
A dancer from the Beija-Flor samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesA dancer from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
A dancer from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesA participant at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
A participant at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesParticipants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Participants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesParticipants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Participants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesParticipants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Participants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesParticipants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Participants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesParticipants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Participants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesA participant at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
A participant at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesDancers from the Beija-Flor samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Dancers from the Beija-Flor samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesParticipants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Participants at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesDancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Dancers at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesDancers from the Paraíso do Tuiuti samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Dancers from the Paraíso do Tuiuti samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesA dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
A dancer at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
© Sputnik / Cris GomesDancers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.
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© Sputnik / Cris Gomes
Dancers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school at the 2017 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome.