Top samba schools in Rio Carnival champions parade

Thousands of revellers attended the Carnival Champions Parade in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday evening, to get a glimpse of the elaborate costumes and live music in the annual showcase. The six best samba schools in Brazil showed off their decadent floats as well as their renowned dancing skills to the crowd of spectators.

Imperatriz Leopoldinense won the 2023 Rio de Janeiro Carnival title with a story about Lampião, a traditional bandit leader in the northeast of Brazil in the 1920s and 30s, becoming a folk hero. Runner-up samba school Viradouro honoured Rosa Maria Egipcíaca, considered the first black woman to write a book in Brazil, in the 18th century.

Sixth place samba school Grande Rio, which won last year's carnival title, honoured Brazilian samba giant Zeca Pagodinho by telling his story and having the artist parade on the final float.