Brazilian carnival outfits and costumes: What to wear to Carnival 2026
- Rachel
- Feb 20, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
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Carnival in Brazil is one of the most spectacular festivals in the world, famous for its vibrant music and dancing, and, of course, the dazzling costumes. Whether you're attending a samba parade at the Sambadrome, or joining a bloco (street party), knowing what to wear is essential to fully embrace the spirit of Carnival.
This guide will take you through the history of Brazilian Carnival costumes, what people wear today, and a shopping checklist to help you prepare for attending Carnival 2026. At the end you'll find a gallery of Brazilian carnival outfits and costumes for inspiration when preparing your outfits this year.
Going to Carnaval do Rio in 2026? > Book one of the final Sambadrome tickets for Carnaval 2026 > Book accommodation for Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, ASAP! > Book a bus ticket to Rio de Janeiro
The History of Brazilian Carnival Costumes
The roots of Brazilian Carnival can be traced back to the Portuguese entrudo, a festival that involved water fights and mischief. Over time, African, Indigenous, and European influences blended to shape the unique and colorful celebration seen today.
The elaborate costumes we associate with modern Carnival began to take shape in the early 20th century when samba schools emerged as a defining feature of Rio de Janeiro’s festivities. These schools introduced luxurious, handcrafted outfits adorned with sequins, feathers, and beads, which became a signature of the Carnival parade.
What People Wear to Carnival Today
Samba Parade Costumes
If you’re lucky enough to get tickets to watch the samba school parade at the Sambadrome in Rio, you're in for a treat. Performers at the Sambadrome wear elaborate and expensive costumes, made by professional designers for their competitive performances in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
These costumes are designed to match the school’s theme for the year. The samba dancers are usually dressed in large feathered headdresses, sequined bikinis and skirts, and high heals. The schools' costumes may also feature warrior outfits, animals, characters from folklore, and much more.
The goal is to be as eye-catching as possible, and the costumes contribute to each school's storytelling that unfolds during the parade. Costumes are just one of the competition's judging criterial, along with their music, choreography, story telling, floats, and more.
Bloco Street Party Outfits
When heading out to a street party (bloco), the majority of Carnival attendees wear homemade costumes designed to match the theme of the bloco. Blocos are the heartbeat of Brazil’s street Carnival, and dressing up for them is all about comfort, fun, and creativity. Unlike the structured costumes of the samba parade, bloco outfits are often funny, DIY, and inspired by pop culture.
A unique feature of Blocos de Carnaval is that most have specific dress up themes. For example:
Bloco das Carmelitas, Rio de Janeiro - The crowd wears nun costumes because the bloco is based on a local story about a Carmelite nun who slipped out to join Carnival.
Cordão da Bola Preta, Rio de Janeiro - The theme of this bloco is black and white polka dots
Bloco do Sargento Pimenta, Rio de Janeiro - The crowd dresses in Beatles themed costumes, and listens to Beatles songs
Bloco Que Pena, Amor, Rio de Janeiro - Dress in sunflowers for this 90s pagodge music themed bloco
Bloco da Esquina, Belo Horizonte - The crowd dresses in yellow with sunflower headpieces
Elefante de Olinda - The crowd wears red, as this was the colour from this long-running bloco's early banner with a red elephant
Homem da Meia Noite, Olinda - The crowd wears black clothing and top hats, as the bloco follows a giant puppet who wears a top hat and officially opens the Carnival of Olinda at midnight
Banda de Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - The crowd often wears colourful or drag inspired costumes, as this bloco has a long history linked to LGBTQ performers and musicians
Amigos da Onca, Rio de Janeiro - The theme of this bloco is jaguars, and cat or animal-themed costumes are encouraged
Simpatia é Quase Amor, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - Dress in yellow and lilac for this iconic parade
Before going to Carnival, check the bloco schedule and try to align you costumes with the theme of the parties you are planning attending. To help you, I've made a full list of the best blocos in each city:
Aside from attending blocos with specific themes, here are some common bloco trends:
Funny and Themed Costumes – Many people dress as famous celebrities, politicians, superheroes, or in funny (or even punny) outfits.
Bright and Colorful Attire – Neon, sequins, glitter, tutus, and colorful clothing are a common - leave the black at home.
Comfortable Fabrics – Since blocos happen in the summer heat, people tend to wear light and breathable fabrics, and usually very little of it
Glitter and Face Paint – Glitter is absolutely essential. If you're asking "is this too much glitter" the answer is always "no". You can also decorate your body and clothes with stick-on gems and jewels.
Sensible Footwear – Since blocos involve a lot of walking and dancing, often among big crowds, comfortable sneakers are absolutely essential. This is the only time that you should not wear flip-flops in Brazil.
Checklist: Prepare your Brazilian carnival outfits for 2026
This list will help you prepare your outfits and costumes for attending Carnival in Brazil in 2026. Buy your costumes ahead of time, so that you can spend your time during Carnival enjoying the parties.
For more tips, don't forget to check my full Carnival packing checklist that covers everything you need to bring with you to carnival (not just your costume!).
✅ Comfortable and colorful pieces to mix and match to make eye-catching outfits - think fun shorts, crop tops, body-suits, Brazilian bikinis, tutus)
✅ Anti-theft fanny pack, or a hidden money belt to wear under your clothes - this is essential
✅ A fun fanny pack for easy access to non-valuables
✅ Comfortable sneakers or sandals
✅A big hand-held fan - trust me, it's going to be HOT
✅ Sunglasses and a hat for sun protection - but make them fun!
✅ Feathered or sequined accessories (if you want to add flair to a spectator outfit)
✅ Matching earrings, bracelets, and headpieces
✅ Reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and a sling so you don't have to carry it
✅ Tons of glitter and face paint. Tip: use a strong eyelash glue to stick gems to your face and body - that will help them stay on all day.
✅ Strong hairspray to maintain your look all day & night
Browse some amazing Brazilian carnival outfits and costumes for inspiration
More resources for planning your trip to Brazil
Find cheap bus, ferry, and private transfer tickets on Bookaway, where you can make reservations ahead of time from abroad. Or, rent a car and give yourself the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Find your perfect accommodation on Booking.com, with thousands of options ranging from luxury hotels to budget-friendly backpacker hostels
You're not ready to travel until you have travel insurance. I recommend Safety Wing to my friends, family, and anyone travelling internationally. Get a free quote
Forgetting something? Read my packing check-list for Brazil, and my list of 10 things you should do before you travel to Brazil