Share in your social networks:

The Reveillon in Rio de Janeiro

The most important annual event in Rio de Janeiro after its world-renowned carnival, is the Reveillon. It is a massive New Year’s Eve party that is organized on Copacabana beach, attended by around two million people to welcome the New Year.

The main attraction of the Reveillon is its great fireworks burning, around 25 thousand tons of pyrotechnic products are placed in rafts a few meters from the coast and produce a wonderful show of light and color. Few New Year’s celebrations in the world compare to the one that takes place on Copacabana beach.

The now traditional Reveillon festival originated in the 1980s as a tourist attraction and today it has become a great attraction that attracts thousands of Brazilians and foreigners who do not want to miss such a great spectacle. The best places to enjoy it are undoubtedly the sands of Copacabana beach (although you have to go with enough time to be able to get a good spot) and the balconies and windows of houses and hotels that are on Avenida Atlántica. New Year’s parties are organized in all the hotels on the seafront (promenade) that include privileged locations to enjoy the fireworks on the beach.

After midnight and after the light show that usually lasts about twenty minutes, the party continues with the multiple music concerts organized on the beach itself. The stages of the Copacabana arenas have received famous national and international singers and bands throughout the more than 30 years in which the Reveillon has been celebrated, among them the Brazilians Carlinhos Brown, Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso and the British stand out. Rod Stewart.

Among the main rites and traditions of the New Year or Reveillon party in Rio de Janeiro to attract good luck, is that of dressing in white, throwing flowers into the sea and even entering the sea to jump three consecutive waves. Some also dress in white for religious reasons such as the followers of the Afro-Brazilian religion of Lemanjá, who practice their rituals at the water’s edge.

What is the Reveillon in Rio de Janeiro?

Reveillon is a party that starts on New Year’s Eve. It takes place on Copacabana beach and the main attraction is the fireworks that provide an exciting show full of lights and color. These are located in rafts that are in the sea, a few meters from the shore.

But it is not only celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, it is also held in other Brazilian cities such as Florianópolis, Salvador or Natal, although none has the popularity of Copacabana.

This celebration began in 1980 and currently has the participation of Brazilian and foreign tourists who come to the city to participate in this festival, the second most important after Carnival. The name comes from the French verb “reveiller” which means to wake up, so we could say that “reveillon” is the awakening of the new year.

Party Preparations

From 7:00 p.m. the music begins on the stages and people are arriving in Copacabana to ensure their place, if they did not decide to stay after the day at the beach. Many bars put limitations within the strip of sand where they charge entrance and the person can stay there in a kind of VIP. That is, you are on the beach but in an area with a little more space to move around and safe.

Fireworks, the highlight of the Reveillon

The time remaining for the new year will be announced from the stages and a little before 00hs until, 10 seconds before the expected time, the countdown will begin that will culminate with 14 minutes of fireworks of all colors and possible types.

Not everything ends when the fireworks pass. After that moment, the party continues and the stages scattered around the city’s neighborhoods continue to celebrate the arrival of the new year to the rhythm of samba and other popular genres and Caipirinha! of course! On the hotel terraces the music and dancing continue until the sun rises, as in the nearby clubs and bars.

Reveillon Traditions in Rio de Janeiro

To attend a Reveillon party both in Rio de Janeiro and elsewhere in Brazil, people wear white garments to bring good luck for the year ahead. This is a custom that is taken from the Afro culture, so marked in the Bahia stadium. It is because of this same tradition that many devotees of the Candomblé religion carry flowers and deliver them to the sea along with other offerings for Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea. It is also possible to find people who wear something turquoise, the color that characterizes it. Another tradition is to jump 7 waves consecutively at 00h and make a wish for each jump so that they are fulfilled during the next 365 days.

Reveillon in Rio de Janeiro: Where to stay?

A good option are other nearby regions that are not as touristy as the previous ones but that are a few minutes away, have a metro station and more consistent prices. A little further away (but not so much) are Lapa, Santa Teresa and the Center.

Unless you have the budget to do it and you prefer the comfort of being steps away from the festivities, avoid staying in Copacabana. Prices will also increase for nearby neighborhoods such as Ipanema, Leme and Leblon but that does not mean that you have to go very far from this area to avoid paying a fortune. You can decide on other options in the city if you want to save money.

Check activities available in Rio de Janeiro

We have a complete list of activities and excursions to enjoy Rio de Janeiro. One of these activities is the Carnival Experience, to learn more about the amazing Carnival of Rio de Janeiro

Other amazing activities in Rio de Janeiro

City Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Sugar Loaf

Visit to Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer and Tijuca Forest

Jeep Tour to La Rocinha & Tijuca Forest

Ginga Tropical Dinner Samba Show

Enjoy our tours to visit Rio de Janeiro and other destinations in Brazil

Are you looking for tours to visit Rio de Janeiro and other destinations in Brazil? One of my favorites is the #453 – Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Iguazu Falls. Check more information by clicking in the image below