Rio Carnival to expand elite group to 15 schools gradually
Rio's mayor and Liesa president agreed to increase Grupo Especial from 12 to 15 samba schools, with changes beginning in 2028.
6:50 PM
Rio de Janeiro's mayor Eduardo Cavaliere and Liesa president Gabriel David announced an agreement Thursday to expand the Grupo Especial of Rio's Carnival to 15 samba schools, up from the current 12.
The expansion will be implemented gradually and will not affect the 2027 Carnival, which will maintain the current number of schools. The 2027 parade at Marquês de Sapucaí will feature 12 schools, with three performing each night.
Under the new model, the promotion and relegation system will be adjusted. One school will be relegated to the Série Ouro division, while two schools will be promoted to the Grupo Especial. The expansion will then proceed progressively, with two additional schools added each year until reaching 15 total.
According to the timeline announced, the Grupo Especial will have 13 schools in 2028, 14 in 2029, and finally 15 schools in 2030. The decision was announced Thursday afternoon following discussions between city officials and Liesa leadership regarding the structural, logistical, and financial aspects of the expansion.