The party at Marquis of Sapucaí continues this Monday (16) with the second night of parades of the Carnival 2026 Special Group. Four samba schools will cross the avenue from 10pm, presenting songs that, for the most part, pay tribute to important Brazilian personalities.
It will be Independent Youth of Father Miguelwith the plot “Rita Lee, the patron saint of freedom”. The group will present the singer’s trajectory, from birth to her time in the band Os Mutantes, through Tropicália, her psychedelic phase and her solo career, highlighting the artist’s legacy for Brazilian music.
Next, the current champion of Carnival Carioca, Nilópolis Hummingbirdwill enter the avenue with one of Mercado, a festival in Recôncavo Baiano considered Intangible Heritage of Brazil. With 130 years of history, Bembé is recognized as the largest Candomblé festival in the world, bringing all the cultural and religious richness of this celebration to the sambadrome.
Tributes to masters of Brazilian culture
The third school to present will be Unidos da Viradourofrom Niterói, which will honor Mestre Cissa, an important name in the history of Rio samba. At 80 years old and with decades dedicated to rhythm, the drum master born in Estácio will be leading the Viradouro rhythm players during the parade, in a celebration of his career in carnival.
Closing the night, the Unidos da Tijuca will present a plot in honor of the writer Carolina Maria de Jesus. Born in the interior of Minas Gerais, Carolina moved to São Paulo, where she worked as a garbage collector and, upon finding discarded notebooks, began writing stories, becoming an important Brazilian author recognized for the literature she produced under adverse conditions.
The Special Group continues the carnival program that began on Sunday night, when Academicians from Niterói, Imperatriz Leopoldinense, Portela and Mangueira paraded. The Rio Carnival also features a third night of performances, completing the cycle of parades from the main samba schools in Rio de Janeiro.
Check out the order of parades for the 2nd night of the Rio de Janeiro Special Group
- Independent Youth of Father Miguel
- Nilópolis Hummingbird
- Unidos da Viradouro
- Unidos da Tijuca
