Fireworks dazzle Copacabana as Rio rings in 2026 with record New Year bash

Millions welcomed 2026 on Thursday (January 1) at Copacabana Beach in Rio in a celebration that aimed to break the city's own record as the host of the largest New Year's party.

The "Reveillon," as the celebration is called, started with 19 boats along the coast loaded with pyrotechnics to feature the city's largest firework show lasting 12 minutes to bid farewell to 2025.

The town hall informed that the party would also include unprecedented structures, visuals, 1,200 drones to display images of the city, and 13 stages, three of them at Copacabana Beach, offering different music shows.

In Copacabana, Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil and DJ Alok, among others, were expected to perform for more than 2.5 million revellers, according to the local government.

The government also informed that over 3,000 police agents would be deployed at the beach with 78 watchtowers. With the support of the Rio state security forces, over 23,000 officers are expected to patrol the city for the New Year's Eve celebration.

-Feline Lim and Janaina Quinet