Imperatriz Leopoldinense is the champion of Rio’s carnival, 22 years after its last title. The green, white and gold school of Ramos paraded on the Monday night with “O aperreio do cabra que o excomungado tratou com má-querença e o santíssimo não deu guarida”, of carnavalesco Leandro Vieira.

Imperatriz Leopoldinense travelled to the northeast to tell the story of the arrival in both heaven and hell of the bandit leader and folk hero, Lampião. It is the school’s ninth title and the carnavlesco’s third title having  previously won with Mangueira in 2016 and 2019, in addition to having won the Série Ouro twice, with Imperatriz itself in 2020 and with Império Serrano in 2022. But it is Império Serrano that is relegated straight back to Série Ouro. 

Joining Imperatriz for the winners’ parade will be Viradouro, Vila Isabel, Beija-Flor, Mangueira and Grande Rio.

The results of Rio’s Carnival Parade in 2023 were:

• Imperatriz Leopoldinense (269.8 out of 270) 
• Viradouro (269.7) 
• Vila Isabel (269.3) 
• Beija-Flor (269.2) 
• Mangueira (269.1)
• Grande Rio (268.6) 
• Salgueiro (268.5)
• Paraíso do Tuiuti (268.3)
• Unidos da Tijuca (268.2) 
• Portela (267.7) 
• Mocidade (266.6)
• Imperio Serrano  (265.6)

As always a diverse selection of themes and story lines have been chosen to be presented by the top schools at Rio’s carnaval.

In 2023 these include Vila Isabel that will celebrate the human capacity to have faith in what cannot be seen; Salgueiro that has chosen a plot about valuing freedom of expression, showing that paradise is built individually by each person, without restriction or sin. Mocidade will look at the cultural legacy of artists from Alto do Moura in Pernambuco, and the disciples of the artist Mestre Vitalino. Historic figures also feature and Viradouro will tell the story of Rosa Maria Egípcia who was brought from Africa to Brazil in 1925 and is credited as the first black woman to write a book in Brazil. Imperatriz Leopoldinense will travel to the northeast and tell the story of the arrival in both heaven and hell of the bandit leader and folk hero, Lampião. Império Serrano brings a storyline based on Arlindo Cruz’s success, “My Place”. In a tribute to the singer, the samba school will go through moments and places that marked his career.

Paraíso do Tuiuti will tell the story of the arrival and impact of buffaloes to Brazil, through the Marajó Island, in Pará, which inspired a cultural manifestation in the region. The state of Bahia is featured by three schools. Unidos da Tijuca will celebrate everything about Bahia, taking a lot of axé to the avenue and feature the joy of Bahia’s carnival. Mangueira will highlight the impact of women on the music of Bahia, while Beija-Flor will argue that the “true” independence of Brazil was the expulsion of  the Portuguese troops from Bahia 200 years ago in 1823. Celebrating its centenary, Portela, one of the city’s most famous and traditional schools, will not surprisingly look back at the school’s history through the eyes of five characters who have been fundamental to the school and Rio’s carnival. And Grande Rio, the current champion of Rio’s carnival, will pay tribute to the musician and great sambista Zeca Pagodinho, who will join the school for the parade.

The main parades of the Grupo Especial – Rio’s top 12 ranking samba schools – will next take place on the nights of Sunday, 19 February and Monday, 20 February 2023.

Sunday, 19 February 2023

• Imperil Serrano
• Grande Rio
• Mocidade
• Unidos da Tijuca
• Salgueiro
• Mangueira

Monday, 20 February 2023

• Paraíso do Tuiuti
• Portela
• Vila Isabel
• Imperatriz Leopoldinense
• Beija-Flor
• Viradouro

As we countdown to carnival in Rio the main samba schools, that make up the Grupo Especial, will parade on the nights of Sunday, 11 February and Monday, 12 February.

13 schools will parade in 2018, that is one more than normal after no school was relegated in 2017 and Império Serrano were promoted. It is expected that two schools will be relegated this year. For a full description of the parade visit our sister site, Rio:The Guide, or CLICK HERE

Following the draw by the League of Samba School (LIESA), seven schools will parade on Sunday, 11 February and six on Monday, 12 February. The order (and approximate start time) is:

Sunday, 11 February

• Império Serrano (21.15)
• São Clemente (22.00-22.30)
• Vila Isabel (23.25-23.45)
• Paraíso do Tuiuti (00.30-01.00)
• Grande Rio (01.35-02.15)
• Mangueira (02.40-03.30)
• Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel (03.45-04.45)

Monday, 12 February

• Unidos da Tijuca (21.15)
• Portela (22.00-22.30)
• União da Ilha (23.25-23.45)
• Salgueiro (00.30-01.00)
• Imperatriz Leopoldinense (01.35-02.15)
• Beija-Flor (02.40-03.30)

The titles and rough theme of each samba school for 2018 – and many are likely to be political in content – are:

Sunday, 11 February

• Império Serrano – O Império na Rota da China (A look at the silk route and the influences of China in Brazil)
• São Clemente – Academicamente Popular (A celebration of the centenary of Rio’s Escola de Belas Artes – School of Fine Arts)
• Vila Isabel – Corra, que o futuro vem aí!(Man’s discoveries and inventions and their impact on the environment and how we live)
• Paraíso do Tuiuti – Meu Deus, meu Deus, está extinta a escravidão? (The story of slavery in Brazil)
• Grande Rio – Vai para o trono ou não vai? (A celebration of the centenary of the birth of one of Brazil’s most popular entertainers and communicators, Chacrinha)
• Mangueira – Com dinheiro ou sem dinheiro, eu brinco (A comment on the importance of carnival to the people and city even in an economic crisis)
• Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel – Namastê… A Estrela que habita em mim saúda a que existe em você (A look at the impact and influences of India on Brazil)

Monday, 12 February

• Unidos da Tijuca – Um coração urbano, Miguel, o arcanjo das artes, saúda o povo e pede passagem! (The school honours the popular actor, director and writer Miguel Falabella)
• Portela – De repente de lá pra cá e dirrepente de cá pra lá (Looks at immigrants across the ages and their search for peace and liberty)
• União da Ilha – Brasil bom de boca (A look at Brazil’s culinary delights)
• Salgueiro – Senhoras do Ventre do Mundo (The importance and power of black women)
• Imperatriz Leopoldinense – Uma noite real no Museu Nacional (The theme is the 200 year history of the National Museum, once home to the Emperors)
• Beija-Flor – Monstro é aquele que não sabe amar. Os filhos abandonados da pátria que os pariu (Using the 200^th anniversary of the publication of “Frankenstein” as the hook, the school looks at intolerance to those who are different)

After lodging an appeal with the League of Samba Schools, that are responsible for the parade of the top samba schools, it was decided that Mociade should share the title of champions of the 2017 carnival with Portela.

Mocidade had appealed after it learnt a judge had marked its Comissão de Frente on the wrong set of rules. They had dropped .1 of a point when it should not have done. With that extra .1 Mocidade’s score was the same as Portela. 269.9 points out of a possible 270.

It is Mocidade’s sixth title, having last won in 1996.

After a wait of 33 years Portela, one of Rio’s oldest and most iconic samba schools, is champion of Rio’s carnival again. And by the narrowest of margins of just point one of a point out of 270. Portela scored 269.9 with Mocidade in second with 269.8 and Salgueiro third with 296.7.

Due to problems with some of the big floats it was decided that no school will be relegated, but one school will still be promoted, so in 2018 thirteen  rather than twelve schools will parade on the 11 and 12 February 2018.

The full results of Rio’s Carnival Parade in 2017 were:

• Portela (269.9 points out of 270)
• Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel (269.8)
• Salgueiro (269.7)
• Mangueira (269.6)
• Grande Rio (269.4)
• Beija-Flor (269.2)
• Imperatriz Leopoldinense (268,5)
• União da Ilha (267.8)
• Vila Isabel (267.4)
• São Clemente (267.4)
• Unidos da Tijuca (266.8)
• Paraíso do Tuiuti (264.6)