Carnival 2025 samba queens set Rio ablaze in jaw-dropping costumes: PHOTOS

The Rio Carnival 2025 kicked off on Sunday night, March 2. The annual festival is renowned for its vibrant samba parades, lively street parties, and elaborate costumes, attracting visitors from around the globe. The main samba school parades are held at the Sambadrome, a purpose-built parade venue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The festivities continue until March 8, 2025. 1 of 21 Member of Unidos do Viradouro performing at the 2025 Carnival parade in the Sapucai Sambodrome, Rio de Janeiro, as a crowd watches [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/member-unidos-viradouro-performs-2025-99676718.jpg] A member of Unidos do Viradouro performs. Getty Images 2 of 21 Members of Unidos de Padre Miguel performing at the 2025 Carnival parades at Sapucai Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/members-unidos-de-padre-miguel-99663435.jpg] Members of Unidos de Padre Miguel perform. Getty Images 3 of 21 A member of Unidos do Viradouro performing at the 2025 Rio de Janeiro Carnival parades in Sapucai Sambodrome, Brazil [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/member-unidos-viradouro-performs-2025-99678196.jpg] A member of Unidos do Viradouro performs. Getty Images 4 of 21 Members of Estacao Primeira de Mangueira performs [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/members-estacao-primeira-de-mangueira-99678158.jpg] Members of Estacao Primeira de Mangueira performs. Getty Images 5 of 21 Performers from Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school dancing at the Sambadrome during the Brazil Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, 2025 [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/mangueira-samba-school-revellers-perform-99673908.jpg] REUTERS 6 of 21 Drum queen Andressa Marinho performing at the Sambadrome during Rio's Carnival, with crowd in the background, March 2, 2025 [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/drum-queen-andressa-marinho-padre-99642702.jpg?w=1024] Drum queen Andressa Marinho from Padre Miguel samba school. REUTERS 7 of 21 A member of Imperatriz Leopoldinense in a red garment with large feathers performing during the 2025 Carnival at the Sapucai Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/member-imperatriz-leopoldinense-performs-2025-99654684.jpg?w=1024] A member of Imperatriz Leopoldinense performs. Getty Images 8 of 21 Queen of Drums from Estacao Primeira de Mangueira performing at the 2025 Carnival parades at Sapucai Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/queen-drums-estacao-primeira-de-99679313.jpg?w=1024] Queen of Drums of Estacao Primeira de Mangueira performs. Getty Images 9 of 21 Performers from Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school dancing at the Sambadrome during the Brazil Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, 2025 [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/drone-view-shows-unidos-de-99643208.jpg] The Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school performing at the Sambadrome. REUTERS 10 of 21 Pregnant woman from the Viradouro samba school parading during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, 2025 [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/pregnant-woman-viradouro-samba-school-99672698.jpg] A pregnant woman from the Viradouro samba school. AP 11 of 21 Performers from Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school dancing at the Sambadrome during the Brazil Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, 2025 [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/performers-unidos-de-padre-miguel-99642323.jpg] Performers from the Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school. AP 12 of 21 A member of Unidos de Padre Miguel performing at the 2025 Carnival parades at Sapucai Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil." [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/member-unidos-de-padre-miguel-99640290.jpg] A member of Unidos de Padre Miguel performs. Getty Images 13 of 21 Members of Padre Miguel samba school performing at the Sambadrome during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 2, 2025. [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/members-padre-miguel-samba-school-99639102.jpg] Members of Padre Miguel samba school perform. REUTERS 14 of 21 Performers from the Viradouro samba school parading during the Brazil Carnival at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, 2025 [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/performers-viradouro-samba-school-parade-99672386.jpg] Performers from the Viradouro samba school. AP 15 of 21 A reveller from Viradouro samba school gesturing while performing at the first night of carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2025 [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/reveller-viradouro-samba-school-gestures-99657998.jpg] A pregnant woman from the Viradouro samba school. AFP via Getty Images 16 of 21 A member of Unidos do Viradouro performing at the 2025 Carnival parades in Sapucai Sambodrome, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/member-unidos-viradouro-performs-2025-99678141.jpg?w=1024] A member of Unidos do Viradouro performs. Getty Images 17 of 21 Generating... [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/drone-view-shows-unidos-de-99643302.jpg] The Sambadrome during Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro. REUTERS 18 of 21 A member of Unidos de Padre Miguel performing at the 2025 Carnival parades in Sapucai Sambodrome, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/member-unidos-de-padre-miguel-99640256.jpg] A member of Unidos de Padre Miguel performs. Getty Images 19 of 21 Members of Unidos de Padre Miguel performing at the 2025 Carnival parades in Sapucai Sambodrome, Rio de Janeiro, with a large crowd watching. [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/members-unidos-de-padre-miguel-99640130.jpg] Members of Unidos de Padre Miguel perform. Getty Images 20 of 21 Members of Padre Miguel samba school in blue and white outfits performing at the Sambadrome during Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Brazil, March 2, 2025. [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/members-padre-miguel-samba-school-99638779.jpg] Members of Padre Miguel samba school in blue and white outfits. REUTERS 21 of 21 Members of the Padre Miguel samba school performing at the Sambadrome during Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/members-padre-miguel-samba-school-99638053.jpg] Members of the Padre Miguel samba school performing at the Sambadrome during Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. REUTERS