Rio de Janeiro Carnaval 2020 Champions Parade

Visit: Rio Carioca Tours, Rua Xavier da Silveira 22A, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22061-011 Brazil

The famous and sought after Champion's parade, also known as the Winners' Parade reunites the Champion and five runners-up, celebrating victory and closing the Rio Carnival Samba Parades. 

The Champion's Parade is considered to be the happiest of all samba parades. Here's why: the top six Samba Schools - the big Champion and the five runners-up - earn their last chance to celebrate by putting up a great show, this time, without the burden of being judged and the responsibility of perfection. The parade is all about dancing and singing and celebrating Rio Carnival. At the grandstands, carnival aficionados - who are not yet eager to call it a summer - sing and dance all along with the samba schools. Yes, it's the most relaxed night at the sambodromo. 

For the Samba Schools themselves, it's a time of carnival pride. The people involved in the preparation of the Samba Schools are usually from poor communities; so having their school parade in the Champion's Parade broadens their perspective of possibilities.

How Are the Samba Schools Judged?

All good things need detailing judgment; and this is not different when it comes to choosing the best Schools - the ones that will make the cut for the Champions' Parade - of the most famous festive event of the world. We're here talking about the best Samba Schools for the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. There are ten specific areas that the schools are arbitrated in, from their theme and the way it was portrayed to the flag bearer's abilities, the floats, the music and the drums; it's all very carefully observed. There are a total of 40 judges that are divided between the 10 categories, 4 judges overlook each of these categories.

The Rio Carnival results are shown live on Ash Wednesday at the Apotheosis Square, where the Schools paraded a few days before. If you are in town you will be able to see it at just about anywhere in the marvelous city. Cariocas stand still to follow that 2-hour event which unveils the big Carnival Champion. The announcer runs over each category of each school, giving a score from 5 to 10. All schools representatives are gathered calculating their scores and when the year's champion is announced the festivities begin again.