New Year in Brazil: where to spend it

At a glance

New Year in Brazil: what the cities held last time

Brazilians call New Year’s Eve Réveillon. The cities publish their programmes each year, usually close to the date, so the facts below are from the last edition (New Year 2026). We update this page when the 2026/27 programmes come out.

Rio de Janeiro

The Prefeitura do Rio reported more than 5.1 million people across the city for New Year 2026, with about 2.6 million in Copacabana. There were 13 stages: three on Copacabana and Leme (Palco Rio, Palco Samba and Palco Leme) and ten more in places such as Praia do Flamengo, Parque Madureira and Piscinão de Ramos. In Copacabana the fireworks were synchronised with a drone show. Our New Year’s Eve in Rio page covers the Copacabana night in detail.

São Paulo

São Paulo celebrates on Avenida Paulista. For New Year 2026 the Prefeitura de São Paulo reported more than 14 hours of music with nine acts and 15 minutes of silent fireworks, without the loud bangs. It suits travelers who want a city New Year or who are already in São Paulo for business.

Beyond the two big cities

Many travelers spend midnight in Rio and then move on: to Búzios, Paraty, Ilha Grande or the beaches of the Northeast. Programmes in other cities change every year, so we check them with the city when we build your proposal. Month by month planning is in Brazil in December.

Ways to spend midnight in Rio

• On the sand in Copacabana, with a guide and a transfer plan around the road closures
• At a hotel or apartment with a view of the beach
• On a private boat in the bay: see New Year’s Eve yacht in Rio
• A quieter dinner in another part of the city, with a driver for the night

How we plan your New Year trip

We book the hotel or apartment (see accommodation in Rio), airport transfers, a driver or guide for the night, the boat if you want one, and the days after New Year. Each option and its terms are in one proposal. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. Check entry requirements on official websites.

If you are also thinking about February, see Carnival in Brazil 2027.

What to tell us in your request

• City (Rio, São Paulo or elsewhere) and arrival and departure dates
• Number of travelers and ages of any children
• How you want to spend midnight: beach, hotel view, boat or dinner
• Hotel or apartment, and preferred area
• Guide language
• Extra days or trips after New Year

Cancellation for New Year: the deposit is not refundable after confirmation. One date change is possible with 48 hours’ notice if the provider has another date. If the provider fails, we arrange a replacement or refund the full deposit; for weather or force majeure, a new date or a full deposit refund.