Série Ouro technical rehearsals run Jan. 23–25 at the Sambadrome with free entry and 15 schools; SuperVia and MetrôRio will run special service.
Liga RJ will hold Série Ouro technical rehearsals for Carnival 2026 this weekend. The presentations take place at the Sambadrome in downtown Rio. The program runs from Friday (Jan. 23) through Sunday (Jan. 25), with free admission.
Fifteen samba schools will rehearse across three nights. On Friday, rehearsals start at 9 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, the schedule begins at 6 pm.
Friday schedule (Jan. 23)
9 pm – Unidos do Jacarezinho
10 pm – Em Cima da Hora
11 pm – Unidos da Ponte
12 am – Vigário Geral
1 am – Unidos de Padre Miguel
Saturday schedule (Jan. 24)
6 pm – Botafogo Samba Clube
7 pm – União do Parque Acari
8 pm – Unidos de Bangu
9 pm – União de Maricá
10 pm – União da Ilha
Sunday schedule (Jan. 25)
6 pm – Inocentes de Belford Roxo
7 pm – Arranco
8 pm – Império Serrano
9 pm – Porto da Pedra
10 pm – Estácio de Sá
Key step toward the official parades
The technical rehearsals are a key stage in the run-up to the official parades. In this way, schools test movement, singing and harmony on the avenue. In 2026, Série Ouro will parade on Feb. 13 and 14.
Extra train and metro service
To support crowds, SuperVia will run extra trains departing from Central do Brasil. From Friday into Saturday (Jan. 24), extra departures are scheduled to Santa Cruz at 12 am, 1:45 am and 3:30 am, to Japeri at 12:20 am, 2 am and 3:40 am, to Saracuruna at 12 am, 1:45 am and 3:30 am, and to Belford Roxo at 3:40 am.
On Saturday (Jan. 24), trains leave Central at 10:30 pm and 1 am to Santa Cruz, at 10:50 pm and 1:10 am to Japeri, and at 10:30 pm and 1 am to Saracuruna. On Sunday (Jan. 25), departures are set at 10:30 pm and 1 am to Santa Cruz and Saracuruna, at 10:50 pm and 1:10 am to Japeri, and at 1:10 am to Belford Roxo.
MetrôRio will also operate on a special schedule. Praça Onze and Central do Brasil stations will allow boarding until 4 am on Friday (Jan. 23). However, on Saturday (Jan. 24) and Sunday (Jan. 25), boarding at these stations will run until 2:30 am.
At other stations, after regular hours, service will be for exit only. This way, the plan aims to ensure attendees can return home after the rehearsals. Finally, the schedule strengthens mobility planning for Carnival season.