The official São Paulo carnival celebrations kicked off Friday night with a parade of the Special Group samba schools, the best in the city, at the Anhembi Sambadrome.
This vibrant show highlighted powerful themes, blending Black culture, the fight against racism and sexism, and mysticism, in an explosion of creativity and energy.
Later that night, Colorado do Brás immersed the Sambadrome in a mystical world with a Friday the 13th-inspired theme centered on witches and folklore. Dark-hued floats and theatrical performances transformed the venue into a fantastical spectacle, highlighting witches as symbols of female resistance throughout history.
Brazilian actress Fabi Bang, known for her role as Glinda in the local production of Wicked , enthusiastically joined the parade: "It's a long-held dream for Glinda to experience the energy of Anhembi, samba, and Brazil. It's a privilege to be able to take her on this adventure . "
Fourteen samba schools will be evaluated in several categories, from percussion to costumes and floats. Only one will be crowned champion of the 2026 São Paulo Carnival.
The first school to parade, Mocidade Unida da Mooca, marked its debut in the top division with a captivating theme paying homage to the Instituto Geledés, a Brazilian organization led by Black women who fight racism and sexism. "For me, Carnival is a reclaiming of authentic Black culture, of suburban culture, and of samba ," said Sté Oliveira, the school's singer.
