Four different types of samba parades take place at the Sambodromo during the carnival season, following the same traditional sequence each year. The event begins with the Série Ouro Group and culminates with the Winner's parade.

The Série Ouro

The Série Ouro parades on the first and second days of the Carnival, February 5th and 6th, 2027. It acts as the second division of samba schools, aspiring to join the prestigious Special Group. Featuring 15 samba schools, the triumphant school advances to the Special Group in the subsequent year. Performances commence at 09 pm.

Samba schools in this category typically lack the financial resources and sponsorship that many Special Group schools benefit from, yet they exhibit notable skill and tradition.

The Special Group

The Special Group parades are the epitome of Rio's Carnaval, showcasing the city's finest samba schools. In 2027, the Special Group parades will occur on February 7th, 8th, and 9th — Sunday through Tuesday, featuring four schools each night. These dazzling performances, highlighted by their opulent costumes and floats, start at 10 pm.

The Children’s Parade

Children's parades, featuring junior divisions of the samba schools, occur as well during the carnival, mirroring the main groups' style and flair. In 2027, these youthful displays will unfold on January 23rd, 24th, and 30th, with a final parade on February 12th, all hosted in the afternoon with free entry.

The Champion’s Parade

The Champion's Parade, slated for Saturday, February 13th, 2027, brings together the top school and the five runners-up from the Special Group, celebrating their accomplishments and concluding the Rio Carnival Samba Parades.

How the samba parade is judged

Participants in the Rio samba parade are evaluated across nine categories, including Drumming Band, Samba Song, Harmony, Flow and Movement, Theme Development, Front Commission, Flag Bearer and Escort, Floats and Props, and Costumes. Judges, positioned strategically along the samba runway, score each category from 9 to 10. Each category is judged by four individuals, making it a sum of 36 judges in total.

The Drumming Band category requires synchronization and melodious harmony, while innovation with percussion elements is prized. The school's samba song is scored on lyrical depth, thematic alignment, and how compelling the musicality is in expressing the year’s theme. Harmony awards schools for unifying performance elements successfully. Flow and Movement rate the seamlessness and energy of performance transitions, while Costumes, Floats, and Props are judged on their aesthetic innovation and alignment with the school’s thematic representation.

The Front Commission captivates with choreography and presence, introducing the school. The Flag Bearer and Escort duet is judged on coordination, dance proficiency, and overall charisma. Theme Development is about the originality, clarity, and integration of a school's theme within its parade performance.