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LIESA and the City Hall define a progressive plan for the Special Group to reach 15 schools by 2030.
Published on 09/04/2026 - 20:26 | Updated
Carnival is the event with the greatest economic impact in the city of Rio de Janeiro - Marco Terranova/Riotur The Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro (LIESA) and the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro sealed, on the afternoon of this Thursday (April 9th), a historic agreement for the future of the greatest show on Earth. In a plenary meeting held at Cidade do Samba, which was attended by Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, the president of LIESA, Gabriel David, and representatives of all the groups, a structured plan was defined for the progressive expansion of the Special Group, which will have 15 schools by Carnival 2030.
During the meeting, marked by an atmosphere of open and collaborative dialogue, the institutions debated proposals to ensure the sustainable growth of the event. The approved model respects the existing regulations: in 2027, the competition will continue with 12 schools. From then on, the transition will occur gradually. At the end of each cycle, two groups will move up from the Gold Series and only one will be relegated. With this dynamic, the Special Group will have 13 schools in 2028; 14 in 2029; reaching the format of 15 groups in 2030.
According to LIESA's president, Gabriel David, the decision reflects the maturing of Carnival management.
– I want to highlight the presence of Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere and his openness to dialogue with the samba schools. This type of qualified listening strengthens the entire sector. We had a productive conversation, in which it was possible to deepen our understanding of the demands of the samba schools and the current state of our spectacle. The scenario today is more structured, which allows us to move forward responsibly in the discussion about expanding the group. The defined model is progressive, respects the current rules, and guarantees financial security for everyone involved.
The commitment of the public authorities to enable this expansion responsibly was the central point of Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere's speech, who guaranteed the necessary support for the transition.
– We've reached an agreement for the Carnival to include 15 schools, but it must be done within the regulations and gradually, gradually. The City Hall's role throughout has been to guarantee all the financial, logistical, and infrastructural structure for this. And even with the City Hall guaranteeing this, the schools need time to prepare, to plan—time for everything to happen safely, ensuring that the Carnival will only continue to advance, evolve, becoming bigger, better, and more competitive – highlighted the mayor.
In addition to the expansion schedule, the meeting reinforced the need to guarantee equivalent structural conditions for all schools, ensuring complete equality in the preparation of the parades. The joint construction between LIESA and the City Hall consolidates a sustainable model, with financial predictability and the capacity to strengthen the entire Rio Carnival production chain.
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