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The News
Rio’s famously colorful Carnival kicked off on Sunday, the first time since 2020 that the week-long celebration is being held without COVID-19-related restrictions.
“The Carnival is the face of Brazilian culture,” a minister told Folha. “It gathers all our cultural expressions, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Some 2 million people are expected to attend the festivities where they’re forecast to spend a record $1 billion in Rio’s businesses.
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The Photos
1. Revellers at a block party in Rio before the start of the Carnival
![](https://img.semafor.com/35336a28e50b95e64d3ca2f586cae9e56c8e18bc-5500x3667.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
![](https://img.semafor.com/e49affc2a918392bfe6ed351fee73ab67fcc3aca-5500x3667.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
2. Dancers prepare for their show
![](https://img.semafor.com/052a496b4a2d81fe3ecf51dd03fd0fc66215b9ff-4903x3269.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
![](https://img.semafor.com/397ddc8dc936fabd38cb32eaa75fbd4a14cdb4a6-5500x3655.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
![](https://img.semafor.com/d60b3e69ea68635e73195c5f1efb5eda1906fef9-5500x3667.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
3. The ‘Sambadrome’ in Rio where the Carnival takes place
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![](https://img.semafor.com/185b2bbcf047e8fc3156e2ebed5e07087dc9d1ec-5000x3120.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
4. The Mangueira samba school
![](https://img.semafor.com/48609af2a4c915ddc9b7ffcfbfb152bafc1e6f84-5247x3498.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
![](https://img.semafor.com/cdae412cb8d1f944716636561dd6b3cef05d20bb-5210x3473.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
5. Zeca Pagodinho sings with the Rio Grande school
![](https://img.semafor.com/3f92c5de749ea0491f3f3fc16dc0a1931837b837-5075x3329.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
6. Unidos da Tijuca samba school
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![](https://img.semafor.com/ed6e8b40a7ff55c8246c803f57281ff201067701-5500x3666.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
7. The Salgueiro samba school with an angels and dragons theme
![](https://img.semafor.com/3fb24c7564a9a6accb08fdb3c498375895d7e073-5140x3348.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
8. Brazilian celebrities in attendance
![](https://img.semafor.com/55e8e0943dc1f950d756863d6834d1e902da04bf-3313x2155.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
9. Grande Rio samba school with a market-inspired show
![](https://img.semafor.com/5393fe5df8b4bcdb2b10982a767b90eced9991d4-5000x3164.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)
10. The Sambadrome’s cleaning staff march through
![](https://img.semafor.com/cd3a2be0091e878c3c0f0acdbf5e9bad91a36459-5220x3343.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=format)