Map of the schools

Colors

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Founded

1928

Founded in Morro da Mangueira on April 28, 1928, from the gathering of local blocos. Among its founders are Cartola, Carlos Cachaça, Zé Espinguela, Saturnino Gonçalves, Abelardo da Bolinha, Seu Euclides, Seu Maçu, Pedro Paquetá, and Benedita de Oliveira (Tia Fé). The name Estação Primeira refers to the first train station from Central where samba took place. Mangueira holds 20 Rio Carnival titles.

Colors

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Founded

1923

Emerging in Oswaldo Cruz from local groups and blocos, its founding key figures included Paulo da Portela, Antônio Caetano, and Antônio Rufino. Before being named Portela, it went by names such as Conjunto Carnavalesco de Oswaldo Cruz and Vai Como Pode. With 22 championships, it is the most winning school in Rio Carnival.

Colors

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Founded

1948

Founded in Nilópolis on December 25, 1948, by a group that included Milton de Oliveira (Negão da Cuíca), Edson Vieira Rodrigues, Helles Ferreira da Silva, Mário Silva, Walter da Silva, Hamilton Floriano, and José Fernandes da Silva. The name was suggested by Dona Eulália de Oliveira, inspired by Rancho Beija-Flor de Marquês de Valença. The school has 15 titles in the Special Group.

Colors

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Founded

1953

Born on Morro do Salgueiro in Tijuca from the merger of three organizations: Azul e Branco, Depois Eu Digo, and Unidos do Salgueiro. The school has 9 titles in the Special Group. In the 1960s, it made Carnival history by bringing Black figures and Afro-Brazilian themes to the Avenida, as in its winning parades about Zumbi dos Palmares in 1960 and Xica da Silva in 1963.

Colors

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Founded

1959

Founded in Ramos in 1959, Imperatriz won its first title in Carnival's top tier in 1980 with the theme O que é que a Bahia tem?, created by carnival designer Arlindo Rodrigues. The following year, it became back-to-back champion. The school also made Sambódromo history by winning three consecutive titles in 1999, 2000, and 2001 under carnival designer Rosa Magalhães, in addition to the 2023 championship.

Colors

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Founded

1946

Founded on April 4, 1946, in Morro dos Macacos on the initiative of Antônio Fernandes da Silveira (Seu China) and a group of friends. Its creation was inspired by Bloco Acadêmicos da Vila from Morro do Pau da Bandeira. The school won three titles in the Special Group: 1988, 2006, and 2013.

Colors

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Founded

1955

Founded in Padre Miguel, Mocidade has its origins linked to Independente Futebol Clube. The school has won six titles in the Grupo Especial: 1979, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1996, and 2017. Mestre André, a fundamental figure in its drum section and creator of the famous paradinhas, helped build one of the most striking rhythmic identities in Rio's Carnival.

Colors

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Founded

1931

Founded on Morro do Borel on December 31, 1931. Among its founders were Bento Vasconcelos, Leandro Chagas, and Alcides de Moraes, known as Tatão, alongside families connected to the school's grassroots. The school won four titles in the Grupo Especial: 1936, 2010, 2012, and 2014. In the 2000s, it rose to prominence for its theatrical solutions and illusionism effects on the Avenida.

Colors

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Founded

1946

Founded in Barreto, Niterói, on June 24, 1946. Its name refers to the area where streetcars passed through. Before competing in Rio's Carnival, it won 18 titles in Niterói. In Rio's Grupo Especial, it holds four championships: 1997, 2020, 2024, and 2026.

Colors

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Founded

1988

Founded in Duque de Caxias on September 22, 1988, through the merger of local organizations. Milton Perácio is among its founders, and the leadership of Jayder Soares and Helinho de Oliveira played an important role in consolidating the school. Grande Rio won its first title in the Grupo Especial in 2022, with the theme Fala, Majeté! Sete Chaves de Exu.

Colors

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Founded

1952

The school was born on Morro do Tuiuti, in São Cristóvão. Its name brings together references to local organizations such as Paraíso das Baianas and Unidos do Tuiuti. It has not yet won the Grupo Especial title. Its best finish was runner-up in 2018, with the theme Meu Deus, Meu Deus, Está Extinta a Escravidão?.

Colors

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Founded

2015

Founded in Maricá on May 26, 2015, the school won the Série Ouro in 2026 with the theme Berenguendéns e Balangandãs, created by carnival designer Leandro Vieira. With this title, it earned promotion and will make its debut in the Grupo Especial in 2027.