Samba and sequins: Rio carnival in pictures
- Published
Brazil's most famous carnival celebrations have taken place in Rio de Janeiro.
More than 70,000 people gathered at the city's huge concrete arena known as the Sambadrome, where samba schools compete to be crowned carnival champions.
More than a dozen elite samba schools paraded on Sunday and Monday
The schools aim to dazzle both judges and audiences with ornate costumes and big routines
Each school is judged on elements such as choreography, atmosphere, organisation and singing
Some schools featured the country's indigenous communities this year
Despite reduced city subsidies, the samba schools still managed to put on a good show
One dancer was inspired by Charlie Chaplin in his costume
This float was an homage to Marielle Franco, a black city councillor and human rights activist from one of the city's poor favela districts who was shot dead last year
The competition between samba schools is fierce, with each school trying to outdo the next one
Newspaper O Globo says the event is "another way of crying and protesting: we are alive!"
Some seven million people were expected overall at what is said to be one of the world's largest street parties
Photographs subject to copyright