Looking for an Inexpensive Samba Parade? Watch the Série Ouro parade.
The Série Ouro Parades
The participants in the Rio de Janeiro Carnival Série Ouro Parades are perhaps not given as much reverence as those in the Special Group. Still, they consist of excellent performers as well. Composed of 15 of Rio’s big samba schools, the competition is fierce in this category, as the winner makes it to the Special Group parade of the following year.
This is the best option for those who do not want to spend vast amounts of money but are still interested in watching exceptional performances. Série Ouro Parade Ticket Packages are highly sought after and tend to sell out quickly. Samba Schools in the Special Group that did not perform well in previous years now join the Série Ouro Parades. They do everything to return to the Special Group. Thus, Cariocas and tourists end up being able to attend the Série Ouro Samba Parade with small schools and large schools for a more accessible price, in a very interesting competition, as the large schools yearn to return to the main group and the small ones fight for a place next to the big ones, giving its best on the Sambadrome at Avenida Marques de Sapucaí.
Luciola Villela | Riotur
The 2026 Rio Carnival Série Ouro Parade
The 2026 Rio Carnival Série Ouro parades will happen on Carnival Friday, February 13th, and Saturday, February 14th. The lineup for the 2026 parade at the Sambadrome on the order of performance will be as follows:
Warming up before entering the Samba Catwalk - at "Concentração"
"Concentration" in English is the translation of the word "Concentração" in Portuguese. At the sambadrome, "concentração" is the area where schools gather for a final warm-up before they enter the competition arena. Just like in the Rio Carnival Special Group category, only two schools collect at any given time, in order of their performance schedule, and await their entrance which is announced over the microphone.
This is a great place to take pictures with performers, as everyone is in a high state of energy and excitement just before they take the stage.
Luciola Villella | Riotur
How to choose your Série Ouro Parades ticket packages
If you decide to attend Série Ouro's samba parade, the prices will be considerably lower, as compared to the Special Group’s parade. There are various types of seats to choose from. The Grandstand seats or bleachers, with unmarked seats, are the cheapest ticket packages. Allocated seats are in Sector 12 and are assigned seats. If you want to protect yourself from the summer rains that suddenly fall in Rio de Janeiro, then Camarotes Folia Tropical, VerdeRosa or Mar are your best option.
Our Advice: Get a front box ticket - It's not that expensive compared to the Special Group Parades and watch the parades with the comfort of an assigned seat right by the runaway. Get Sambadrome Ticket Packages Here.
Still can't decide? Our video below may help.
Some people recommend that the best place in the Sambodromo is near the drummers’ niche, where the “baterias” stop to play and the acoustics are perfect. These include the front boxes and grandstands in Sector 11. Others say that Sector 6 offers a good view of the parade, as it is located in the middle of the avenue, offering an excellent view of the front and rear of the parade and it has a judges' cabin in that sector. Sectors 2, 7, and 10 also each have a judges’ cabin.
There are thus a variety of ticket packages for you to choose from, depending on what you would like to experience. Whichever sector or day you choose to buy your Carnival ticket packages for the Série Ouro Parades, you will certainly have an unforgettable night!
