The biggest street party in the world has come and gone. For six days (Friday, February 5 to Wednesday, February 10, 2016) the streets of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was filled with colours, beauties, magic and frills.
Six top samba troupes based in the South American city staged spectacular carnival parades at the huge Sambadrome venue in Rio. The city beat the Zika virus threat and played host to more than 4,000 performers and 78,000 fans seated in the magnificent arena.
The Grupo Especial, made up of twelve of the city’s top sambo schools, competed against themselves over two nights. Each school choose a story of historical or allegorical significance and choreographed song, dance, and custom leading to an explosion of colours and thrills. The Olympics was a popular theme this year.
The carnival, which comes just before Lent every year, is the biggest tourism export in Brazil and arguably in the whole of South America.
We bring you the top sexy dancers and more below. (Click on any image to enlarge)
A reveller of Unidos da Tijuca samba school performs during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Revellers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Revelers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
TOPSHOT – Revellers of Uniao da Ilha samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Brazilian model Raisa de Oliveira, reveler of Beija-Flor samba school performs during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO/ VANDERLEI ALMEIDAVANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Revelers of Uniao da Ilha do Governador samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016. AFP PHOTO/ VANDERLEI ALMEIDAVANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Brazilian model Raisa de Oliveira, reveler of Beija-Flor samba school performs during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO/ VANDERLEI ALMEIDAVANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Dancers parade in the street during the Rhythm and Harmony contest in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on February 7, 2016. The dresses are more than five meters high and over 80 kilos in weight. The event began on January 13 and finishes on February 14 with orchestras playing Caribbean and Brazilian rhythms throughout the festivities that range from elections for the Carnival Queen, the Junior Queen and the Senior Queen, to children and adult murgas (satirical street bands), comparsas (dance groups) and street performances. AFP PHOTO / DESIREE MARTINDESIREE MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images
Revellers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Revellers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Revellers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Revellers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
TOPSHOT – Revellers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. A / AFP / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Revellers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
Revellers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
A member of the PPK block (Krishna Peacock Feather) takes part in a carnival parade at Jardim dos Pirineus neighbourhood, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on February 7, 2016. The Krishna Peacock Feather is inspired in Indian culture. AFP PHOTO / Douglas MAGNODouglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images
Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte performs in Mocidade de Padre Miguel samba school during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO/ VANDERLEI ALMEIDAVANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Revelers of Mocidade de Padre Miguel samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO/ VANDERLEI ALMEIDAVANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Revelers of Beija Flor samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on february 08, 2016. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMONCHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
Revelers of Uniao da Ilha do Governador samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016. AFP PHOTO/ VANDERLEI ALMEIDAVANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Revelers of Estacio de Sa samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on february 07, 2016, Brazil. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMONCHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
TOPSHOT – A member of the PPK block (Krishna Peacock Feather) takes part in a carnival parade at Jardim dos Pirineus neighbourhood, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on February 7, 2016. The Krishna Peacock Feather is inspired in Indian culture. AFP PHOTO / Douglas MAGNO / AFP / Douglas MagnoDOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP/Getty Images
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