More than 500,000 people transformed the streets of downtown Rio this Sunday (1st) into a large carnival stage along the route on Rua Primeiro de Março. The megablock SerQAbre?, by Ivete Sangalo, which performed for the first time in the carnival blocks of the Circuito Preta Gil, was accompanied by thousands of the artist’s fans, on a clear sky and strong sun day in the city.
At the head of the electric trio, Ivete greeted the revelers saying that this is a very special moment in her career, which will be kept in her heart. During the parade, she sang hits like Party, Big Luck, It shook, Eve and also some songs from the “Ivete Clareou” project, inspired by classic sambas and pagodes.
“Today, what I feel is gratitude for everything we are going to experience together and for being here with you, in this special city. Today I came to get the choir out of you, joked the singer.”
Ivete cried when talking about Preta Gil, after whom the circuit dedicated to megablocks is named.
“The weather forecast wasn’t like that, and this sun that illuminates us now is her presence. Preta has been involved in my life since I set foot in Rio de Janeiro.
She remembered that every time she arrived in Rio, she called Preta, always the first person she spoke to. “A deep love. “A sister. A very big love. Today she’s not here, but I really wish she were.”
This year, the expectation is that the more than 400 blocks spread across the city will bring together around 6 million revelers on the streets of Rio, ten of which are considered megablocks.
The Rio Tourism Company (Riotur) makes the complete program available on the Blocos do Rio 2026 application and on the website officialso that revelers know when and where the festivities will take place.
