The 2022 Rio de Janeiro Special Group parades were held between April 22nd and 23rd, 2022 (postponed due to the pandemic), at the Marquês de Sapucaí, with exclusive broadcast on TV Globo. The schools in the Special Group in 2022 were, in order of presentation: Imperatriz Leopoldinense, Mangueira, Salgueiro, São Clemente, Viradouro, Beija-Flor, Paraíso do Tuiuti, Portela, Mocidade, Unidos da Tijuca, Grande Rio and Vila Isabel. The grand champion was Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, with a theme about Exu. The other champion schools were Beija-Flor, Viradouro, Vila Isabel, Portela and Salgueiro, and the school relegated to the Gold Series was São Clemente.
The storyline "Boys, I saw... where the sabiá sings, where Dalva and Lamartine sing" is a tribute to the carnavalesco Arlindo Rodrigues, responsible for the school's first championship.
The storyline "Angenor, José and Laurindo" pays homage to three icons of the samba world: Cartola, Jamelão and Delegado, and seeks to serve as inspiration for the community.
With the theme "Resistance," the school addresses places marked as points of Black culture in Rio, proposing a discussion to confront the effects of slavery in the country.
The storyline "My Life is a Play" arrives at Sapucaí as a tribute to the comedian Paulo Gustavo, celebrating his life story and also his city, Niterói.
With the theme "No sadness can withstand so much joy," Unidos da Viradouro will tell the story of the first carnival in Rio after the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919.
The storyline "Empretecer o pensamento é ouvir da voz da Beija-Flor" reinforces the importance of great names in the school's history so that they are not forgotten in the future.
With the theme “Ka ríba tí ÿe - May our paths open”, Paraíso do Tuiuti aims to honor great Black personalities and propose a breaking down of barriers and stereotypes.
Unidos da Tijuca brings to the avenue the theme “Waranã – The Red Re-existence” to talk about cycles, lineages and resistance. In addition to valuing the peoples of the forest.
With the theme “Igi Osè – Baobá”, Portela tells the story of the baobab, a tree of African origin, which represents survival, wisdom, ancestry and resistance.
With the theme "Sing, sing my people! Vila Isabel is Martinho!", Vila Isabel arrives to honor the samba singer Martinho da Vila.
Mocidade arrives at Sapucaí with the theme 'Batuque ao Caçador' (Drumming to the Hunter), which will honor great figures from its own history. It will also celebrate Oxossi, the orixá (deity) who is the patron saint of the school.
Grande Rio comes with the theme "Speak, Majeté! The seven keys of Exu" with the proposal to demystify Exu, who in the West is seen as something evil.
Highlights from the Special Group parades in Rio de Janeiro, 2022