Carnival of Salvador
Carnaval · Salvador, Brésil
The festival
The Salvador Carnival, capital of Bahia, is recognized by Guinness as the largest street carnival on the planet: about two and a half million people follow the eletric trios, these sounded-in trucks invented in 1950 by Dodô and Osmar, along the Dodô circuits (Barra-Ondina, facing the ocean), Osmar (Campo Grande) and Batatinha (Pelorinho, the historical centre). In 2027, the feast runs from 4 to 10 February, with a pre-carnival from 29 January.
It is the carnival of Afro-Brazilian culture: the Afro blocos — Olodum, Ile Aiyê (first Afro bloco of Brazil), Filhos de Gandhy and Timbalada — make the samba-reggae beat in the heart of the most African city in the Americas.
Good to know
Pre-carnival from January 29, 2027; the feast runs until Ash Wednesday at noon.