Technical rehearsals of Rio’s samba schools now have dates. On January 25 (Saturday), Unidos de Padre Miguel from Realengo will kick off the list, which runs until 23/02, with the current champion Viradouro. 12 samba schools from the first division Group and 16 from the access group will rehearse at the Sambódromo for the general public, and the best part? It’s free!!! The big news is that, for the first time, the elite samba schools of Rio will rehearse twice, with the second time including a sound and lighting system from the official presentation, ensuring the quality of the performances and giving the public a preview of what they will see on the day of the event.

The pre-Carnival tradition that gathers thousands of revelers a week before the start of the parades, the Washing of the Samba stage will take place on Saturday, February 22, starting at 6 PM. This event marks the end of the free technical rehearsals at Sapucaí. With the goal of blessing the celebration and spiritually preparing the ground for the parades, the ecumenical ritual of Washing the stage brings together children from the mirim schools, masters of ceremonies, flag bearers from all schools, members of the old guard, the Afoxé Filhos de Gandhi, Catholics, Candomblé and Umbanda practitioners, and other religious and carnival groups.

Check out the calendar for the Special Group and the Gold Series:

Saturday, January 25 – Special Group

8 PM: Unidos de Padre Miguel
9:30 PM: Unidos da Tijuca
11 PM: Mocidade Independente

Sunday, January 26 – Gold Series
6 PM: União Parque Acari
7 PM: Em Cima da Hora
8 PM: Inocentes de Belford Roxo
9 PM: União da Ilha

Saturday, February 1 – Special Group
8 PM: Paraíso do Tuiuti
9:30 PM: Beija-Flor
11 PM: Mangueira

Sunday, February 2 – Gold Series
6 PM: Tradição
7 PM: Unidos da Ponte
8 PM: Unidos de Bangu
9 PM: Porto da Pedra

Saturday, February 8 – Special Group
8 PM: Vila Isabel
9:30 PM: Portela
11 PM: Grande Rio

Sunday, February 9 – Gold Series
6 PM: Arranco
7 PM: Vigário Geral
8 PM: União de Maricá
9 PM: Estácio de Sá

Saturday, February 15 – Special Group
8 PM: Salgueiro
9:30 PM: Imperatriz Leopoldinense
11 PM: Viradouro

Sunday, February 16 – Gold Series
6 PM: Botafogo Samba Clube
7 PM: Acadêmicos de Niterói
8 PM: São Clemente
9 PM: Império Serrano

Thursday, February 20 – Special Group
8 PM: Unidos de Padre Miguel
9:30 PM: Unidos da Tijuca
11 PM: Mocidade Independente

Friday, February 21 – Special Group
8 PM: Paraíso do Tuiuti
9:30 PM: Beija-Flor
11 PM: Mangueira

Saturday, February 22 – Special Group
6 PM: Washing of Sapucaí Ceremony
8 PM: Vila Isabel
9:30 PM: Portela
11 PM: Salgueiro

Sunday, February 23 – Special Group
8 PM: Grande Rio
9:30 PM: Imperatriz Leopoldinense
11 PM: Viradouro