Four different types of samba parades take place at the Sambadrome during the Rio Carnival season, and these usually follow the same pattern year after year, beginning with the Série Ouro opening parades and ending with the Champion's Parade.
The Série Ouro
The Série Ouro parades on Friday, February 5th, and Saturday, February 6th, 2027 — two opening nights that take place just before the official start of Rio Carnival. Think of the Série Ouro as the second division of samba schools: they are traditional and beautiful, but with simpler productions compared to the elite schools above them. This group is made up of 16 samba schools, and the winner earns promotion to the Special Group the following year.
The schools that compete in this group usually do not have access to the financial resources and sponsors that many of the Special Group schools do, but most of them are as experienced and proficient.
The Special Group
The Special Group parades are the centrepiece of Rio Carnival — the nights when the most famous and lavishly produced samba schools take over the Sambadrome with extravagant costumes and towering floats.
The Special Group spans three consecutive nights — Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday — with 4 schools performing each night, for a total of 12 schools. In 2027, these three nights fall on February 7th (Sunday), February 8th (Monday), and February 9th (Tuesday). This three-night spectacle is widely recognized as the greatest carnival show on earth and is the main event visitors come from around the world to witness.
The Children's Parade
Most samba schools have a children's section, and they perform as well during carnival, in the same manner as the main groups. The children's parade will happen during January 23rd, 24th and 30th with 3 samba schools performing on those days and the other 12 samba schools will perform on Friday, February 12th, before the Champions Parade.
The Champion's Parade
The Champion's Parade takes place on Saturday, February 13th, 2027, bringing the carnival season to a triumphant close. The top 6 schools from the Special Group — the champion and five runner-ups — return to the Sambadrome to celebrate their achievements in a final, joyous showcase.
After the winner has been announced, this following Saturday showcases the victorious parade, consisting of the schools ranked 1 to 6 in the samba parade of the Special Group.
How the samba parade is judged
The participants in the Rio samba parade are judged on 9 categories which are Drumming Band, Samba Song, Harmony, Flow and Movement, Theme Development, Front Commission, Flag Bearer and Escort, Floats and Props, and Costumes. The appointed judges are located at various points of the samba runway and allocate points on a scale of 9 to 10, with 10 being the highest. Each of the 9 categories has 4 judges, resulting in a total of 36 judges at the event.
In the Drumming Band category, judges look for consistency amongst all performers and the ability to work in tune with each other. Being innovative within the limited scope allowed (wind and brass instruments are not allowed) is highly favored.
The school's samba song is judged based on its lyrics, melody, and ability to bring out the essence of the theme for the year. Schools that successfully synchronize all the elements of the performance will score in the Harmony category. Flow and Movement judges the members on how smoothly they are able to maintain the pace of the performance and transition between sections, while at the same time adding character and vitality to the show. Costumes, Floats, and Props are judged on their visual appeal, creativity, and appropriateness with regard to the theme.
While the Front Commission is judged on the choreography of its performance and how well it catches one's attention in introducing the school, The Flag Bearer and Escort are judged on how well they coordinate as a couple. Their proficiency in dancing, poise, flexibility, and range. The Theme Development category refers to how creative, understandable, and relevant a school's theme is and how well it has been incorporated in the program.
