Rio Carnaval LGBTQ+ — Gala Gay & Blocos
Sobre este evento
Rio has no single LGBTQ+ carnival event. It has a queer layer running through the whole of Carnival, from street blocos in Ipanema and Centro to a dedicated space inside the Sambadrome. For a lot of gay travellers this is the reason to visit Rio: five days when the city's usual rules relax and dressing up, cross-dressing and drag are completely normal on the street.
The oldest anchor is the Banda de Ipanema, founded in 1965, a bloco famous for drag and outrageous costumes that parades through Ipanema on Carnival Saturday and Tuesday afternoons. It is free, packed and very good-natured. Newer queer blocos and parties fill the rest of the calendar: Divinas Tretas on the Flamengo seafront, Selvagem's street party in Centro, Sai Hétero, which has moved to a ticketed, closed format for safety, and CarnaPride, a free all-day party by Santos Dumont airport. At the Sambadrome, CandyBox runs the LGBTQ+ space in Sector 8, with open bar, buffet and pop and drag acts, paid and pricey. The old Gala Gay ball at the Scala, a Carnival Tuesday fixture for decades, hasn't advertised an edition since 2019 as far as we could find.
Carnival runs from Friday to Ash Wednesday and moves each year with Easter, landing in February or early March. Rooms in Ipanema and Copacabana sell out months ahead and prices jump, so book as soon as you know you're going, and expect minimum-stay rules. It is high summer: hot, humid and prone to afternoon downpours, so drink water between caipirinhas. Pickpockets love bloco crowds; take a cheap phone and little cash.
The last Carnival ran from Friday 13 to Ash Wednesday 18 February 2026. Time Out reported that the Sambadrome LGBTQ+ space was marking 16 years, and Sai Hétero told the press it expected 10,000 to 20,000 people at its closed parade on Carnival Tuesday. There is no overall attendance figure for the LGBTQ+ events. The 2027 bloco and party line-ups hadn't been announced when we checked.
Where to stay during Rio Carnaval LGBTQ+ — Gala Gay & Blocos
via Stay22Our three picks · Rio de Janeiro
via Stay22A 7-minute walk from the nearest metro station, this contemporary, relaxed hostel is a 15-minute walk from Botafogo beach and 12 km from the Christ the Redeemer statue. Featuring bunk beds and free Wi-Fi, the bright dorms sleep up to 15 people; linens and towels are provided. Private rooms are also available. Some units have air-conditioning and/or en suite bathrooms. A breakfast buffet is complimentary. Other amenities include a modern TV lounge, a DVD player and video games, as well as a share
Opposite Ipanema Beach, this breezy oceanside hotel is a 9-minute walk from a metro stop and 4.5 km from Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. The warm airy rooms feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars and desks. Room service is on offer 24/7. A complimentary breakfast buffet is served in an upscale, cool restaurant offering international cuisine and ocean views. There's a relaxed bar in the lobby. Other amenities include a beauty salon, a 24/7 fitness room, sunloungers on a terrace,
Dating from 1923, this art deco style hotel overlooking Copacabana Beach is 10 km from Santos Dumont airport and 13 km from Christ the Redeemer statue. Featuring period furniture and original artwork, the cozy, refined rooms and suites include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and minibars. Suites add sitting rooms; some offer private pool access and a wet bar, plus butler service. Room service is available. Breakfast and parking are included. There’s a restaurant serving pan-Asian fare, as wel
Vídeos
Gay Carnival Brazil (Official Music Video) | GRES Cultura Queer
