Complete guide to celebrating New Year's Eve 2026 at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
- Rachel
- Jan 8, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Feliz Ano Novo! The New Year's Eve party in Rio de Janeiro is widely considered to be the biggest in the world. In 2025, 2.5 million people attended the New Year's Eve (Réveillon) party on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about attending the New Year's Eve party on Copacabana beach, from concerts and performances, to transport, and how to stay safe at the party. Now, let's find out what happens at the world's largest new year's eve celebration in Rio de Janeiro.
Visiting Brazil for New Year's Eve 2026? > Find accommodation for your stay in Rio de Janeiro > Find cheap bus tickets to Rio de Janeiro (5% off with NEXTSTOP5 at checkout)
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Celebrating New Year's Eve at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
While New Year’s Eve is celebrated across Brazil, Rio de Janeiro hosts the most iconic event. The celebration at Copacabana Beach draws millions of locals and tourists from around the world. It is considered one of the largest outdoor New Year’s Eve events globally, and attracted over 2.5 million people in 2025, of which 25% were tourists. The crowds are diverse and include families, groups of friends, and visitors from around the world.
Copacabana Beach stretches for four kilometers and serves as the epicenter of the festivities. People begin arriving early in the afternoon to secure their group's spots, outlining little circles in the sand where their group will sit and leave their belongings, including coolers and cangas (sarongs) to sit on.
The highlight of the Copacabana celebration is the 12-minute long fireworks display, which begins at midnight. The fireworks are launched from 19 barges anchored offshore, and are synchronized with music, providing a spectacular show for the millions of people celebrating on Copacabana Beach.
What to wear to New Year's Eve at Copacabana
On New Year's Eve, almost everyone will be dressed in white, a tradition that originates from Afro-Brazilian traditions and symbolizes peace and renewal.
Though everyone dresses in white outfit, your choice of underwear is also important. Each color represents a particular wish for the upcoming year:
White: Peace and new beginnings
Pink: Love, romance, and relationships
Red: Love, passion, and desire
Green: Health and well-being, balance
Blue: Harmony, serenity and wisdom
Yellow: Wealth, prosperity, and career
See the full list
Concerts & Entertainment at Copacabana Beach for New Year's Eve 2026
NYE will features live performances by the Brazil's most famous artists, bands, and DJs across three stages right on Copacabana Beach: Palco Principal, Palco Samba, and Palco Leme.
In 2025, one of Brazil's most famous artists internationally, Anitta, headlined the celebrations. This year, major performers confirmed so far include Gilberto Gil, Ney Matogrosso, Belo, Alcione, João Gomes, Iza, and DJ Alok. In addition to the music, 1,200 drones will be used during Alok’s show, which is scheduled to take just place after midnight, to create an exciting modern and high-tech-visual display.
Here is the full line-up of New Year's Eve concerts on Copacabana Beach:
Palco Principal (Main Stage): In front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel and Rodolfo Dantas Street
From 6.00 pm DJ Cathy
8.00 pm Gilberto Gil and Ney Matogrosso
10.30 pm Belo and Alcione, Alok
12.00 am Fireworks
12.12 am João Gomes and Iza
3.30 am Beija-Flor
Palco Samba (Samba Stage): In front of República do Peru Street
From 6.00 pm DJ Tamy
8.00 pm Roberta Sá
10.00 pm Mart’nália
12.00 am Fireworks
12.12 am Diogo Nogueira
2.00 am Feyjão invites Bloco da Preta
3.30 am Acadêmicos do Grande Rio
Palco Leme (Leme Stage): In front of Anchieta Street
From 6.00 pm Marcelo Araújo
7.20 pm Midian Lima
8.45 pm Samuel Messias
10.15 pm Thalles Roberto
12.00 am Fireworks
12.12 am Grupo Marcados
Transport & Road Closures in Copacabana on New Year's Eve
Though expensive, it is ideal to find accommodation in Copacabana so that you can walk home after the party. This will save you a lot of transport-related headaches. Of course, this will require booking your accommodation well in advance, and hotels and hostels in Rio de Janeiro will fill up several months ahead of NYE.
If you are not staying in Copacabana, it's important to arrive early and plan how to get home in advance, as roads near the beach are closed to vehicles during the event.
Here is the full schedule of road closures at Copacabana on the 31st of December, 2026:
8am: Roads closures begin with two lanes closed on Avenida Atlântica.
2-3pm: Avenida Atlântica will be fully closed by mid afternoon
7.30pm: Full road closures in Copacabana, with limited exceptions for taxis busses
10pm: Full road closures in Copacabana, with no exceptions
5am (1st Jan): Most roads in Copacabana will re-open
7pm (1st Jan): Avenida Atlântica will be fully re-opened
Getting an Uber to and from Copacabana is impossible due to the road closures. To take an Uber or taxi, you will have to first leave Copacabana either by metro or walking (check the safety of your route before doing so, and do not walk alone), before calling an Uber. Even then, be prepared for surge pricing and long wait times.
How to buy a metro ticket for New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro
If you plan to take the metro to Copacabana, it's important to buy your metro ticket in advance. Pre-purchased metro tickets, with a designated time-slot, are the only way to access the beach by metro from 7pm-12am on the 31st of December.
New Year's Eve metro tickets are on sale from 9th December to 25th of December, from 10am to 9pm. You must buy your ticket in person at one of four designated subway stations: Carioca, Pavuna, Central, or Jardim Oceanico. There are no online sales.
From the 25th of December onwards, you will be able to purchase tickets through the MetroRio app or website, however, it's best to get your tickets as early as possible to ensure you get your chosen time-slot.
Busses to Copacabana will also operate until 10pm, however expect these services to be very crowded.
Health & safety during NYE on Copacabana Beach
With millions of people in attendance, the city implements extensive security measures to ensure a safe experience. Nevertheless, it's important to watch your belongings closely, leave your valuables at home, and follow my guide for what to bring to street parties and how to keep your belongings safe during the event. Plus, avoid walking around at night, outside of the main party areas.
There will be a large police presence at the event, with 3,300 police officers and checkpoints with metal detectors to enter the beach area. There will be four medical stations located at Avenida Princesa Isabel, Praça do Lido, Rua República do Peru, and Rua Siqueira Campos.
Other Places to celebrate New Year's Eve in Brazil
Although Rio’s Copacabana Beach is the most famous location for New Year’s Eve celebrations, other cities across Brazil host their own events. Salvador, Florianópolis, and São Paulo are popular places to celebrate, with music, fireworks, and their own traditions. Each city brings its own flavor to the festivities, but most places in Brazil, even smaller towns, will have music, fireworks displays, and enthusiastic locals ready to celebrate the new year.
More resources for planning your trip to Brazil
I use Bookaway to find cheap bus & ferry tickets and private transfers , or and Kiwi to find cheap flights. Or, rent a car and give yourself the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Book your accommodation on Booking.com, with thousands of options ranging from luxury hotels to budget-friendly backpacker hostels, there's something for everyone
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.
Don't forget to read my packing check-list for Brazil
Last but not least, discover 10 things you should do before you travel to Brazil