The Rio de Janeiro Carnival was officially inaugurated with the symbolic handing over of the keys to the city to King Momo this Friday. Mayor Eduardo Paes personally delivered the keys to King Momo, Kaio Mackenzie, who expressed his honor and gratitude to the samba community, the samba schools, and the blocos participating in the annual carnival celebration.
"As King Momo of this wonderful city that hosts the largest Carnival in the world, it is an honor to receive the key to the city. I thank the entire samba community, the samba schools, and the blocos that celebrate life every year in our Carnival," said Mayor Paes.
King Momo emphasized the event's significance for the city and its culture by officially declaring the 2025 Carnival open. The ceremony also featured the Carnival Queen 2025, Thuane Ribeiro, the Princesses Rhuanda Monteiro and Jéssica Almeida, the muse Luis Otávio Antonio dos Santos, the muse Bianca de Oliveira Mourão Ermida, and the non-binary citizen Lucas Antonio Valentim da Silva.
The key handover was attended by the Candonga family, guardians of the city's key, as well as representatives from the Velhas Guardas associations of the carioca samba schools and other special guests. With this act, Rio de Janeiro kicked off its traditional carnival celebration, which attracts thousands of national and international tourists every year, positioning the city as the world epicenter of this festivity.
Brazil's carnival, which engages millions of people across the country, began with parades at the samba stadium in Sao Paulo, where the samba schools impressed with their bright exhibits, immersive percussion, and majestic floats. The parade included tributes to great figures of Brazilian music and current relevant themes, from justice to technology and video games.
The celebrations of Brazil's Carnival extend to iconic cities such as Salvador, Ouro Preto, and Recife, showcasing the diversity and cultural richness of this highly anticipated festivity. Carnival continues to be one of the most important cultural manifestations in Brazil and the world, attracting the attention of millions who enjoy the festive and colorful spirit of this celebration.
