Carnaval: In All Its Color and Glory

Explore the exhibition dedicated to Brazil's biggest and most expressive popular event, where music, revelry, and smiling faces fill the country's streets, avenues, and dance halls

Carnaval: bloco 'Acadêmicos do Baixo Augusta' (2022-04-24) by Eduardo KnappFolha de S.Paulo

2022

The crowd has fun with the Acadêmicos do Baixo Augusta carnival troupe (called a bloco) in Anhangabaú Valley, downtown São Paulo.

Carnaval: baile em 1962 (1962-03-05)Folha de S.Paulo

1962

Revelers crowd into the traditional dance held at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Palace.

Carnaval: baile no clube Juventus (1983-02-15) by Luiz A. NovaesFolha de S.Paulo

1983

Female revelers enjoy the carnival dance held at São Paulo's Clube Atlético Juventus sports club.

Carnaval: transexual (1993-02-03) by Antônio GaudérioFolha de S.Paulo

1993

A trans person poses for a photo session in their downtown São Paulo apartment. This picture was part of the 6th Pirelli/MASP Photography Collection, which went on display in 1996 at the Assis Chateaubriand São Paulo Art Museum in downtown São Paulo.

Carnaval em Pernambuco (2005-02-08) by Tuca VieiraFolha de S.Paulo

2005

The traditional gathering of giant carnival dolls as they parade along the steep historic streets of Olinda in Pernambuco State.

Carnaval de rua (1959-02-09)Folha de S.Paulo

1959

Revelers have fun at carnival on Vila Esperança Street in São Paulo's East Zone. Originally created by Spanish immigrants in the 1920s, for decades this was one of the city's most popular carnivals.

Encontro dos Maracatus Rurais (1999-02-15) by Ormuzd AlvesFolha de S.Paulo

1999

An Afro-indigenous Rural Maracatu group perform at the 8th Ilumiara Zumbi Rural Maracatus Event in Ilumiara Zumbi Square in Olinda, a town in the Recife Metropolitan Area.

Carnaval: bloco Galo da Madrugada (2020-02-25) by Eduardo KnappFolha de S.Paulo

2020

A dancer from Pernambuco's famous carnival block (bloco) Galo da Madrugada parades through Ibirapuera Park during the São Paulo carnival.

Integrante de grupo de maracatu rural (2017-02-27) by Marcus LeoniFolha de S.Paulo

2017

A reveler takes part in a street carnival in the town of Nazaré da Mata—home to Pernambuco State's largest gathering of performers of the Afro-indigenous genre Rural Maracatu.

Trio carnavalesco Os Corujas (2007-02-18) by Moacyr Lopes JuniorFolha de S.Paulo

2007

The Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo performs on top of the Os Corujas music truck (called a trio elétrico) on the traditional carnival circuit in Salvador, the capital of Bahia State.

Carnaval infantil (1961-02-18)Folha de S.Paulo

1961

Children join in with a dance at the children's carnival held at the Clube de Regatas Saldanha da Gama social club, in the coastal city of Santos in São Paulo State.

Carnaval: bloco 'Filhos de Gandhy' (2011-03-06) by Moacyr Lopes JuniorFolha de S.Paulo

2011

Members of the traditional afoxé music carnival block (bloco), Filhos de Gandhy, walk along a historic street in Pelourinho, the old town of Salvador, the Bahia State capital.

Carnaval em São Luiz do Paraitinga (2017-02-07) by Luciano CocaFolha de S.Paulo

2017

A crowd gathers on a street in São Luiz do Paraitinga. This historic town in São Paulo State is home to one of Brazil's most traditional and famous carnivals.

Carnaval de rua (1988-02-08) by Vidal CavalcanteFolha de S.Paulo

1988

Revelers wearing carnival costumes have fun on a street in São Paulo.

Carnaval: bloco 'Galo da Madrugada' (2002-02-09) by Ormuzd AlvesFolha de S.Paulo

2002

A bird's-eye view of the Galo da Madrugada carnival block (bloco) in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco State, during the block's 25th anniversary celebrations.

Carnaval: Baile dos Artistas (1963-02)Folha de S.Paulo

1963

Revelers at Rio de Janeiro's famous Baile dos Artistas (Artists' Ball).

Carnaval: 'Bloco Espetacular Charanga do Franca' (2017-02-27) by Eduardo KnappFolha de S.Paulo

2017

A band member from the A Espetacular Charanga do França carnival block (bloco) takes part in a parade along a street in downtown São Paulo. The group was set up in 2012 as a pre-carnival dance band.

Carnaval de rua (1961-02-16)Folha de S.Paulo

1961

Revelers have fun at a street carnival in the city of São Paulo.

Carnaval: bloco afro Ilê Aiyê (2001-02-27) by Ernesto RodriguesFolha de S.Paulo

2001

Members of the Ilê Aiyê carnival block (bloco) take part in a performance on the traditional carnival circuit in Salvador, the capital of Bahia State. The Afro-Brazilian block was established in 1974.

Bloco 'Bola Preta' (2013-03-01) by Daniel MarencoFolha de S.Paulo

2013

A view of Rio de Janeiro's oldest carnival block (bloco), Cordão da Bola Preta, which was established in 1918.

Rei Momo e Rainha Moma (1954)Folha de S.Paulo

1954

The carnival's King Momo and Queen Moma wave to the crowd during a street carnival parade in São Paulo.

Carnaval de rua (1968-02)Folha de S.Paulo

1968

Revelers wearing costumes parade in a car during a street carnival in São Paulo.

Carnaval de Olinda (2021-02-08) by Leo CaldasFolha de S.Paulo

2021

Arailde Lopes Botelho, 95, watches as the musician Luis Vieira da Silva passes by. Nicknamed Lulinha da Tuba after his instrument, the tuba player is a member of the Grêmio Henrique Dias school in Olinda (Pernambuco State), which performs traditional frevo—an improvised carnival dance. When carnival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was sorely felt across the state.

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