The samba schools prepare all year to parade at Carnival in Sapucaí. But which one will parade first and who will close the show this year?
What’s more, in 2025 , there’s something new on the samba catwalk! The performances of the Special Group will take place over three days of Carnival! So, to make sure you don’t get lost, check out the schedule with the schools’ days and times!
The Special Group parades take place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday!
It’s already Carnival tradition in Sapucaí: the Gold Series schools parade on Friday and Saturday.
However, this time, the Special Group will have three days of performances, March 2nd, 3rd and 4th, with four schools in each.
This year, the following schools are part of the Special Group: Unidos de Padre Miguel, Beija-Flor, Salgueiro, Grande Rio, Unidos da Tijuca, Imperatriz, Mocidade, Portela, Vila Isabel, Mangueira, Paraíso do Tuiuti and Viradouro.
UPM and Imperatriz open the Carnival parades in Sapucaí
The opening act in the Special Group samba schools’ parade is Unidos de Padre Miguel, whose storyline is “Egbé Iyá Nassô”. The parade is scheduled for 10pm on March 2nd.
Next to parade their Carnival in Sapucaí is Imperatriz Leopoldinense. The school from Ramos crosses the avenue with the storyline “Ómi Tútu ao Olúfon – Água fresca para o senhor de Ifón”. The performance starts between 23:30 and 23:40.
Viradouro and Mangueira close Sunday’s parades
After Imperatriz’s parade, Viradouro, whose samba tune is “Malunguinho: O Mensageiro de Três Mundos” (Malunguinho: The Messenger of Three Worlds), will be making its mark on the samba catwalk.
Mangueira, meanwhile, is the last school to parade on Carnival Sunday, starting at 2am, and its samba is “À Flor da Terra – No Rio da Negritude Entre Dores e Paixões”.
Unidos da Tijuca, Beija-Flor, Salgueiro and Vila Isabel liven up Monday
And it’ s not over! On Monday, March 3, Carnival in Sapucaí kicks off in full swing with Unidos da Tijuca and Beija-Flor, starting at 10pm.
The school from Tijuca will bring Logun-Edé to the avenue, while the school from Nilópolis will pay homage to Mestre Laíla, one of the biggest names in the school and in Rio carnival.
Salgueiro will then parade at the turn of the century ‘with a closed body’. Vila Isabel closes the day with a storyline about hauntings!
Carnival in Sapucaí is complete with Mocidade, Tuiuti, Grande Rio and Portela
For those who are going to follow the Carnival in Sapucaí from start to finish, Tuesday promises thrills!
Opening the day’s parades at 10 p.m., Mocidade will be talking about the future. Then it’s the turn of Paraíso do Tuiuti , who have chosen the plot “Quem Tem Medo de Xica Manicongo” for this year’s carnival.
Grande Rio will then dive into “Pororocas Parawaras: As Águas dos Meus Encantos nas Contas dos Curimbós”.
Finally, Portela, the last school to parade in Sapucaí, will pay homage to singer Milton Nascimento in its plot “Cantar Será Buscar o Caminho Que Vai Dar no Sol“.
So, who are you rooting for?