Huge floats, wild costumes and nonstop street parties: Brazil Carnival in photos
A performer from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The world’s biggest party is back as Carnival celebrations return to Brazil with glittery, outrageous costumes, samba rhythms ringing out until dawn and hundreds of raucous roaming parties flooding the streets.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, late Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, late Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, late Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, late Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer from the Vila Isabel samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A performer from the Vila Isabel samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A performer from the Grande Rio samba school parades on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer from the Grande Rio samba school parades on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Performers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A fan of the Viradouro samba school cheers during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A fan of the Viradouro samba school cheers during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer from the Mangueira samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer from the Mangueira samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer impersonates late Brazilian singer Rita Lee during the Mocidade samba school parade at Carnival celebrations in the Sambadrome, Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer impersonates late Brazilian singer Rita Lee during the Mocidade samba school parade at Carnival celebrations in the Sambadrome, Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer from the Vila Isabel samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A performer from the Vila Isabel samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Portela samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Portela samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A performer from the Grande Rio samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer from the Grande Rio samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Drum queen Sabrina Sato from Vila Isabel samba school performs during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Drum queen Sabrina Sato from Vila Isabel samba school performs during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A child watches a parade of the Beija-Flor samba school during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A child watches a parade of the Beija-Flor samba school during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Academicos de Niteroi samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Academicos de Niteroi samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers of Academicos de Niteroi samba school, hold signs that read “Strike” and “People” during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Performers of Academicos de Niteroi samba school, hold signs that read “Strike” and “People” during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A performer from the Portela samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
A performer from the Portela samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Performers from the Mangueira samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Performers from the Mangueira samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A reveler donning a Grinch mask strikes a pose during the Mud Block carnival party in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
A reveler donning a Grinch mask strikes a pose during the Mud Block carnival party in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Carnival King Momo, Danilo Vieira, receives the key of the city from Mayor Eduardo Paes during a ceremony officially kicking off Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Carnival King Momo, Danilo Vieira, receives the key of the city from Mayor Eduardo Paes during a ceremony officially kicking off Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Dancers from the Colorado do Bras samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Dancers from the Colorado do Bras samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
A dancer from the Mocidade Unida da Mooca samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
A dancer from the Mocidade Unida da Mooca samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
