São Paulo Carnival Dates & Schedule 2027
Find the key dates for São Paulo Carnival 2027, including the Grupo Especial samba-school parade nights at the Anhembi Sambadrome, the Access Group parades and the official Pre-Carnival, Carnival and Post-Carnival periods for São Paulo’s street celebrations.
First official street-Carnival weekend.
Main official street-Carnival period.
Final official street-Carnival weekend.
When Is São Paulo Carnival 2027?
São Paulo Carnival does not take place on just one day. The city’s Carnival calendar combines competitive samba-school parades at the Anhembi Sambadrome with street Carnival taking place across São Paulo before, during and after the principal Carnival period.
For 2027, the official street-Carnival calendar begins with Pre-Carnival on January 30 and 31. The main Carnival period runs from February 6 through February 9, followed by Post-Carnival celebrations on February 13 and 14.
The samba-school competition follows its own calendar. Grupo de Acesso 2 — commonly described in English as Access Group 2 — is scheduled for January 30. The headline Grupo Especial, or Special Group, parades on February 5 and 6, followed by Grupo de Acesso 1 on February 7.
This means visitors should think about São Paulo Carnival as a sequence of overlapping events rather than one fixed date. The best dates for your trip depend on whether your priority is the Sambadrome, street blocos or a combination of both.
How the São Paulo Carnival Calendar Works
There are three schedules worth understanding. Keeping them separate makes it much easier to plan accommodation, tickets and individual Carnival days.
Samba-School Parades
These are organized competitive parades at the Anhembi Sambadrome. The competition is divided into groups with specific parade dates. Spectators choose a date and purchase admission for the relevant Sambadrome event.
Street Carnival
São Paulo’s official Carnaval de Rua extends across Pre-Carnival, the main Carnival period and Post-Carnival. Celebrations take place in different parts of the city rather than at one central venue.
Individual Blocos
Each street bloco can have its own date, concentration point, route and start time. These details may develop later than the overall Carnival calendar, so individual bloco information should be checked again before attending.
São Paulo Carnival 2027 Key Dates
Use this chronological calendar as your starting point. It shows where the Sambadrome competition overlaps with the wider street Carnival season.
Scheduled Anhembi parade date for ten Access Group 2 samba schools.
The first official street-Carnival period of the 2027 season.
Seven Grupo Especial samba schools are scheduled for the first headline parade night at Anhembi.
The second Grupo Especial parade night coincides with the opening day of the principal street-Carnival period.
Eight Access Group 1 schools are scheduled at Anhembi while street Carnival continues across São Paulo.
The principal official street-Carnival period continues through Carnival Tuesday.
The official Post-Carnival period extends São Paulo’s street celebrations for another weekend.
São Paulo Street Carnival 2027 Dates
The official street-Carnival calendar is divided into three periods. For visitors, this creates more than one possible weekend for experiencing São Paulo’s blocos and public Carnival celebrations.
Pre-Carnival
January 30–31, 2027The weekend before the principal Carnival period marks the official beginning of São Paulo’s 2027 street-Carnival calendar. Visitors arriving early can therefore experience Carnival before the main February 6–9 period begins.
Carnival
February 6–9, 2027This is the principal four-day street-Carnival period. It overlaps with major Sambadrome events, making these dates especially important for visitors hoping to combine blocos with organized samba-school parades.
Post-Carnival
February 13–14, 2027São Paulo’s official street-Carnival season continues during the following weekend. Post-Carnival can therefore extend a Carnival trip or provide an alternative period for people who cannot attend during the main dates.
The samba-school parades have their own competition calendar. Visitors primarily interested in the headline Grupo Especial should focus on February 5 and February 6. The Access Groups provide additional competitive parade nights on January 30 and February 7.
São Paulo Samba Parade Schedule
Grupo de Acesso 2
Ten samba schools are currently listed for the Access Group 2 parade.
Grupo Especial — Friday
First night of the Grupo Especial competition, with seven schools currently listed.
Grupo Especial — Saturday
Second night of the Grupo Especial competition, with seven schools currently listed.
Grupo de Acesso 1
Eight samba schools are currently listed for the Access Group 1 parade.
Which Schools Parade on February 5 and 6?
Grupo Especial — First Night
- Seven schools in the published running order.
- Pérola Negra opens the competitive lineup.
- See the Samba Parades guide for all seven school names and order.
Grupo Especial — Second Night
- Seven additional schools compete.
- Império de Casa Verde opens the competitive lineup.
- The full order and any updates are on the Samba Parades page.
Which São Paulo Carnival Dates Should You Choose?
There is no single best date for every visitor. Choose your travel period according to the part of Carnival you most want to experience.
Grupo Especial
February 5–6Choose these dates if your main priority is watching the headline Grupo Especial samba-school competition at the Anhembi Sambadrome. Check which schools parade on each night before selecting tickets.
Main Carnival
February 6–9Choose the main Carnival period if blocos and public street celebrations are your priority. Individual bloco schedules should still be checked as the detailed program develops.
Parades + Blocos
February 5–9This period provides the strongest overlap between the Grupo Especial parade weekend and the main street-Carnival calendar, making it particularly useful for first-time international visitors.
Pre / Post-Carnival
Jan 30–31 / Feb 13–14These weekends expand the available street-Carnival season beyond the principal holiday period and can be incorporated into a longer São Paulo itinerary.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Still Developing?
Carnival planning happens in stages. Major calendar dates can be available well before the detailed schedule for every individual bloco, route and operational arrangement has been finalized.
Plan Around These Dates
- Street Pre-Carnival: January 30–31
- Main street Carnival: February 6–9
- Street Post-Carnival: February 13–14
- Grupo de Acesso 2 parade: January 30
- Grupo Especial parade nights: February 5–6
- Grupo de Acesso 1 parade: February 7
Detailed Event Information
- Individual street-bloco dates and start times
- Final bloco routes and concentration points
- Street-event operational information
- Transport changes and temporary road closures
- Event-specific access arrangements
- Any amendments announced by organizers or authorities
São Paulo Carnival 2027 from Start to Finish
The following timeline shows how the major announced dates connect across the Carnival season.
Carnival Activity Begins
The Pre-Carnival street period begins while Grupo de Acesso 2 is scheduled to parade at Anhembi.
Pre-Carnival Continues
The first official street-Carnival weekend continues across the city.
Grupo Especial Night One
Seven Grupo Especial schools are scheduled for the first major competitive parade night.
Grupo Especial + Main Street Carnival
The second Grupo Especial night takes place as the main official street-Carnival period begins.
Grupo de Acesso 1
Eight Access Group 1 schools are scheduled to parade while street Carnival continues across São Paulo.
Main Carnival Continues
Street celebrations continue through Monday and Carnival Tuesday.
Post-Carnival Weekend
The official street-Carnival calendar concludes with the Post-Carnival weekend.
How Many Days Should You Spend in São Paulo for Carnival?
The right length depends on whether Carnival is the entire purpose of your trip or part of a wider visit to São Paulo and Brazil. These examples are planning approaches rather than fixed itineraries.
Carnival Weekend
A shorter visit can focus on one major Sambadrome parade night and a street-Carnival experience. Keep the schedule realistic because parade nights can run late and large street events can require additional travel time.
Four to Five Days
A longer stay gives you more flexibility to combine the Sambadrome, street Carnival and time away from the largest crowds. It also creates room for restaurants, neighborhoods, museums or other São Paulo experiences.
Carnival + São Paulo
An extended itinerary allows Carnival to become part of a broader city experience. Visitors can explore São Paulo before or after their busiest Carnival days rather than trying to fit sightseeing between major events.
Plan Your São Paulo Carnival Experience
Once you have selected your preferred dates, use the specialist guides below to plan the individual parts of your Carnival visit.
Complete Carnival Guide
Start with the main São Paulo Carnival 2027 planning guide.
Carnival 2027 →Samba Parades
Explore parade nights, samba schools and the Sambadrome experience.
Parade Guide →Carnival Tickets
Learn about ticket options and planning your night at Anhembi.
Ticket Guide →Street Carnival
Understand blocos and São Paulo’s citywide Carnaval de Rua.
Street Carnival →Anhembi Sambadrome
Learn about the venue before attending a samba-school parade.
Sambadrome Guide →Visitor Guide
Practical Carnival information for travellers visiting São Paulo.
Visitor Guide →São Paulo Carnival 2027 Date Questions
When is São Paulo Carnival 2027?
São Paulo’s official street-Carnival periods are January 30–31 for Pre-Carnival, February 6–9 for the main Carnival period and February 13–14 for Post-Carnival. The samba-school competition has separate dates at the Anhembi Sambadrome.
When are the main São Paulo samba parades in 2027?
The Grupo Especial is scheduled for Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6. Seven Grupo Especial schools are currently listed for each night.
When is Grupo de Acesso 1?
Grupo de Acesso 1 is scheduled for Sunday, February 7, with eight schools currently listed for the parade.
When is Grupo de Acesso 2?
Grupo de Acesso 2 is scheduled for Saturday, January 30, coinciding with the opening weekend of the official Pre-Carnival street period.
When does São Paulo street Carnival begin?
The official 2027 street-Carnival calendar begins with Pre-Carnival on January 30 and 31. The main street-Carnival period starts on February 6.
What is Pre-Carnival in São Paulo?
Pre-Carnival is the official street-Carnival period immediately before the main Carnival dates. In 2027 it is scheduled for the weekend of January 30 and 31.
What is Post-Carnival?
Post-Carnival extends São Paulo’s official street celebrations into the weekend after the principal Carnival period. For 2027, the Post-Carnival dates are February 13 and 14.
Which dates are useful if I want both samba parades and street Carnival?
February 5–9 creates the strongest overlap. Grupo Especial parades on February 5 and 6, while the main official street-Carnival period runs from February 6 through February 9.
Are all 2027 bloco dates and routes already final?
The major street-Carnival periods can be known before the detailed program for every individual bloco is complete. Individual dates, times, concentration points, routes and operational information should therefore be checked again as Carnival approaches.
Check the schedule again before you go.
Carnival schedules can change, particularly individual street-bloco routes, start times, concentration points, transport arrangements and other operational details. SaoPauloCarnival.com will update this guide as additional 2027 information becomes available. For time-sensitive plans, travel arrangements and purchases, always confirm the latest details with the relevant official organizer, authority or authorized provider.