Brazil's 2027 Carnival samba‑enredo contests unveiled

Rio de Janeiro's Acadêmicos do Grande Rio announced its 2027 parade theme, "Sankofa Tabon • Os retornados da Costa do Ouro e a Estrela Negra da Liberdade," and released a video explaining the concept. The school, which placed eighth in the Special Group this year, will present the new storyline at next year's samba‑school parade.

In São Paulo, the renowned school Vai‑Vai published the full calendar for its 2027 samba‑enredo competition. The chosen theme is "3 Obás de Xangô – A Mãe Bahia em Cantos, Cores e Memórias," with submissions due by 24 July and a series of eliminations and semifinals leading to a final on 13 September. The winning entry will receive a prize of R$30,000.

Other Brazilian samba schools also revealed plans for 2027: Unidos da Ponte secured municipal land for a new rehearsal space, and several other escolas shared their upcoming synopses.