Rio Carnival's Grupo Especial parades fill the Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí on three nights in 2027: Sunday 7, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February, according to LIESA, the league that runs them. Four schools parade each night: União de Maricá, Beija-Flor, Paraíso do Tuiuti and Vila Isabel on the Sunday; Mocidade, Unidos da Tijuca, Salgueiro and Imperatriz on the Monday; Portela, Viradouro, Grande Rio and Mangueira on the Tuesday.
Agência Brasil reported in August that grandstand seats cost a flat R$250 a night, R$125 at half price, sold through Ticketmaster, with the Champions' Parade on Saturday 13 February. LIESA says the album of the 2027 sambas is out on 29 October, which is the time to start learning the choruses.
Oscar Niemeyer built the Sambódromo in 1984 for this one job: a 700-metre canyon of concrete that holds the sound of each school's bateria as it passes. Its atlas page has the advice on where to sit.
