The 2026 Rio de Janeiro Special Group parades took place between February 15th and 17th, 2026, at the Marquês de Sapucaí, with exclusive broadcast on TV Globo. The schools in the Special Group in 2026 were, in order of presentation: Acadêmicos de Niterói, Imperatriz Leopoldinense, Portela, Estação Primeira de Mangueira, Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, Beija-Flor de Nilópolis, Unidos do Viradouro, Unidos da Tijuca, Paraíso do Tuiuti, Unidos de Vila Isabel, Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, and Acadêmicos do Salgueiro. The grand champion was Unidos do Viradouro, with a theme honoring Mestre Ciça. The other schools that returned on Champions' Saturday were Beija-Flor, Vila Isabel, Salgueiro, Imperatriz, and Mangueira, and the school relegated to the Gold Series was Acadêmicos de Niterói.
The faith and journey of the working-class Lula, from the backlands to power.
The audacity, freedom, and transgressive art of Ney Matogrosso.
Who was Príncipe Custódio, a historical and spiritual figure of African origin who left his mark on Afro-Gaucho culture in the 19th century
Celebrating ancestral Amazonian wisdom and the legacy of Mestre Sacaca, a leading figure in Afro-Indigenous knowledge in Amapá.
A tribute to the irreverence and revolutionary spirit of Rita Lee.
Celebrating the ancestry, faith, and rhythms of Bembé do Mercado.
Characterized by the powerful percussion section and the winning trajectory of the great Mestre Ciça.
Telling the life story and work of Carolina Maria de Jesus, one of the most powerful voices in Brazilian literature.
Diving into the spirituality and mysteries of the Afro-Caribbean religion Lonã Ifá Lukumi.
In homage to the art, samba, and legacy of the multi-talented artist Heitor dos Prazeres.
Celebrating the cultural and musical power of the Manguebeat movement.
A carnival-themed journey through myths, legends, and fantastical universes by carnival designer Rosa Magalhães.