Event Dates
From: Thursday, December 31, 2026
To: Thursday, December 31, 2026
Celebrate New Year’s Eve (known as Reveillon in Brazil) in one of the hottest destination in the world.
From: Thursday, December 31, 2026
To: Thursday, December 31, 2026
NYE is one of Rio’s biggest events.
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Two million-plus revellers dressed in white, live music along the beachfront and fireworks exploding above the Atlantic make Copacabana one of the world’s great New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Stay at Arena Copacabana Hotel, directly on Avenida Atlântica, so you can walk to the celebration without relying on transport once Copacabana closes to traffic.
Rio New Year’s Eve – Réveillon
- Next Event: Thursday, December 31, 2026.
- Location: Copacabana Beach – Avenida Atlântica, Copacabana.
- Admission to the public beachfront celebration is free.
- Expect live stages along Copacabana and Leme, with the main celebration centred on Copacabana Beach.
- Fireworks are launched from barges positioned offshore at midnight.
- The complete 2026-27 stage programme, performers, fireworks duration and transport plan are awaiting official release.
- White is the traditional colour for Réveillon, and almost the entire beach dresses accordingly.
- Check out the 10 best hotels in Rio de Janeiro.
Réveillon on Copacabana Beach
- Copacabana is the centre of Rio’s New Year celebrations, with the entire sweep of Avenida Atlântica and the beach filling through the evening.
- People arrive dressed almost entirely in white, carrying drinks, meeting friends on the sand and moving between the beachfront stages before midnight.
- At midnight, the focus shifts offshore as the fireworks launch from barges positioned across the bay. Music resumes immediately afterwards and continues into the early hours.
- The scale is enormous. The previous edition attracted an estimated 2.6 million people to Copacabana and Leme, so where you stay matters far more than it would on a normal night.
2026-27 Programme
Time Event Early Evening Copacabana beachfront celebrations begin Evening Live concerts across the beachfront stages 11.50pm Head towards the beach for the countdown Midnight New Year countdown and fireworks After Midnight Concerts and celebrations continue Early Morning Crowds gradually leave Copacabana The Venue – Copacabana Beach
Copacabana Beach – Avenida Atlântica, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.
- There is no fenced festival site and no general admission ticket. The celebration takes over the beach and Avenida Atlântica, with stages positioned along the waterfront.
- The main stage traditionally sits around the Copacabana Palace section of the beach, with further stages extending towards Leme. Wait for Riotur’s 2026-27 plan before publishing exact stage positions.
- If you want to be close to the main action, stay between Posto 2 and Posto 5. If you prefer slightly more breathing room, look towards Leme or the Posto 6 end of Copacabana.
Rio Réveillon Traditions
- White dominates the beach on New Year’s Eve, a Brazilian tradition associated with peace and good fortune for the year ahead.
- Many Cariocas head to the water after midnight, jumping seven waves and making a wish with each one. Flowers are traditionally offered to Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea.
- Keep your look beach-friendly. White shorts, linen, tees and lightweight shirts work far better here than formal New Year’s Eve clothes.
Getting to Copacabana
- Do not plan on arriving by taxi or app car late in the evening.
- Rio closes Copacabana progressively to road traffic on 31st December, with a special transport operation introduced for the event. The final 2026-27 road closure times and MetrôRio ticket system are awaiting release.
- In the previous operation, Avenida Atlântica closed from the morning, general vehicle access to Copacabana was restricted from 7pm and all vehicle access stopped later that evening.
- If you are staying in Copacabana, walking is by far the easiest option.
- If you are staying in Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo or elsewhere, check the special MetrôRio Réveillon arrangements before travelling. Do not assume a normal metro ticket or normal station access will operate on the night.
Where to Stay
For this event, Copacabana beats Ipanema. Being able to walk back to your hotel after midnight removes the biggest logistical problem of the night.
- Arena Copacabana Hotel – Directly on Avenida Atlântica opposite the beach, with a rooftop pool and an excellent position for the main Réveillon celebration.
- Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana – Luxury beachfront hotel at Posto 6, close to Arpoador and within walking distance of the entire Copacabana celebration.
- Windsor California Copacabana Hotel – Beachfront hotel on Avenida Atlântica with a rooftop pool, putting you directly opposite the celebrations.
- PortoBay Rio de Janeiro – Beachfront hotel towards the Leme end of Copacabana with a rooftop pool and direct access to Avenida Atlântica.
- 10 best hotels in Rio de Janeiro.
Gay Rio – Before Réveillon
For gay visitors, start around Ipanema and the Posto 8/Farme de Amoedo area earlier in the afternoon, then move towards Copacabana before the major road and transport restrictions begin.
- Silêncio Ipanema – Rua Teixeira de Melo 47, Ipanema – LGBTQ+ bar and late-night venue with cocktails, DJs and a strong post-beach crowd.
- Pink Flamingo – Rua Raul Pompéia 102, Copacabana – Gay nightclub with pop, DJs and drag, close to the Posto 6 end of Copacabana.
- Boate La Cueva – Rua Miguel Lemos 51, Copacabana – Historic gay club with a loyal bear, daddy and mature crowd.
- Rio G Spa – Rua Teixeira de Melo 16, Ipanema – Gay men’s sauna close to General Osório and the gay beach.
- Booze Bar Ipanema – Rua Farme de Amoedo 47, Ipanema – Cocktail bar in the heart of the neighbourhood’s gay social area.
- Barraca da Denise 63 – Ipanema Beach – Popular LGBTQ+ beach meeting point for caipirinhas and afternoon drinks before heading back to change for Réveillon.
Rio’s Gay New Year Parties
Réveillon week is much bigger than the night on Copacabana, with major Brazilian and international circuit brands running events before and after 31st December.
- Kevin Party Rio – December.
- GUAPO Fiesta Rio – December.
- XLSIOR Rio – December.
- Festa Tchiboom Rio – December/January.
- Rio New World New Year’s Festival – December/January.
New Year’s Day
- The first morning of the year has its own Rio ritual.
- Stay on the beach for sunrise if you still have energy, or return later once the biggest crowds have disappeared. Ipanema and Arpoador become particularly busy during the afternoon as visitors recover on the beach before the New Year’s Day circuit parties begin.
Where to stay close to all the gay bars
Our top 4 selections with the best rates.
The Windsor Miramar is the hotel our
editors stay in when in Rio, amazing views.
For further information and advice on
Rio NYE check out The Website
Most of Rips gay bars are located in Ipanema and Copacabana. Ipanema’s gayest nightspot is on the beach block of Rua Teixeira de Melo, next to Farme.
Along Copacabana beach there is a traditionally gay-friendly area known as Bolsa, near Lido. Hustlers are pretty much part of the scene, and you should keep a good hold on your wallet
Address: Avenida Atlântica, Copacabana, Zona Sul do Rio de Janeiro,
Address: Av. Vieira Souto, 80 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Atlântica 1702 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Atlântica, 4122 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Rua Sacadura Cabral, 135 – Saúde/Gamboa
Address: Rua do Riachuelo, 97 – Lapa/Centro
Address: Rua Teixeira de Melo 31 Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Rua Raul Pompéia 102, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Rua do Resende 82 A - Lapa - Centro, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Gomes Freire, 599 - Lapa, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. Teixeira de Melo, 47 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Rodrigues Alves, 293 - Saúde, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. Riachuelo, 20 - Lapa, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. do Lavradio, 163 - Lapa, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. Pedro Ernesto 5, Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Princesa Isabel, 21 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Niemeyer, 101 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. Joana Angélica, 40 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Praça da República, 141 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Rua Miguel Lemos 51 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. dos Inválidos, n39 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Atlântica 1850 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Nossa Sra. de Copacabana, 1417 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: Avenida Atlântica, in front of Copacabana Palace (near Rua Rodolfo Dantas), Copacabana, Rio
Address: Avenida Atlântica, Kiosk 63, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. Cândido Mendes, 117 - Glória, Rio de Janeiro
Address: R. Teixeira de Melo 16, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
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Gay Rio de Janeiro, a city that pulses with energy, celebrates diversity, and embraces the LGBTQ+ community with open arms. Nestled between lush mountains and stunning beaches, Rio de Janeiro is not only a tropical paradise but also a haven for those seeking a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. From the iconic Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to the lively Lapa district, gay Rio de Janeiro offers a kaleidoscope of experiences.
The iconic beachfront of Copacabana has a variety of LGBTQ+-friendly establishments & a diverse crowd.
Leblon is known for its beautiful beach, high-end shops, restaurants, bars and the best hotels in Rio





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