CarnivalDaily City Brief — Friday, February 13, 2026
São Paulo Daily Brief for Friday, February 13, 2026
Amina Diarra·February 13, 2026 · 07:00 BRT·13 min read
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01
\nWeather & Air Quality
\nWhat to wear
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Temperature
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21°–29°C
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Partly sunny, warm
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Rain Chance
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60%
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Storms possible PM
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UV Index
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High
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Sunscreen advised
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Fri 13
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29°C
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60% rain — Storms PM
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Sat 14
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28°C
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25% rain
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Sun 15
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29°C
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20% rain
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Mon 16
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30°C
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60% rain
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Weather tip: This is classic São Paulo Carnaval weather — warm mornings giving way to afternoon thunderstorms. The 60% rain chance today is concentrated after 15h, so the evening blocos (Ilú Obá de Min at 19h, Banda do Trem Elétrico at 18h) may face showers. A light poncho or rain jacket is essential. Saturday and Sunday look significantly better with only 20–25% rain. Carry sunscreen for daytime blocos and a poncho for evening ones.
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02
\nDay at a Glance
\nQuick scan
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—CARNAVAL DAY 1 — Ilú Obá de Min opens official street Carnaval at 19h from Praça da República. Banda do Trem Elétrico from 18h on Rua Augusta. 630 blocos registered citywide through Feb 22
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—Anhembi opens TONIGHT — Grupo Especial Night 1 from 23h. Seven schools: Mocidade Unida da Mooca, Colorado do Brás, Dragões da Real, Acadêmicos do Tatuapé, Rosas de Ouro (defending champion), Vai-Vai, Barroca Zona Sul
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—Metrô 24h operation begins tonight — Lines 1, 2, 3, 15 run through the night. Embarque at Portuguesa-Tietê and Palmeiras-Barra Funda; all other stations desembarque only. Free buses to Anhembi from 18h
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—29°C with 60% rain chance — afternoon storms likely. Evening blocos should carry ponchos. Saturday and Sunday look drier (20–25%)
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—Ibovespa at 187,766 (Thu -1.02%) after Wed record 189,699 — breached 190,000 intraday on Wed. B3 open today, closed Mon 16 & Tue 17, reopens Wed 18 at 13h
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—USD/BRL at R$5.20 (Thu close) — touched R$5.15 intraday, lowest since May 2024. Banks open today, closed Mon 16 & Tue 17. Only Tue 17 is official feriado
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—MASP Histórias Latino-Americanas cycle begins in 2026 — Sandra Gamarra, La Chola Poblete, and Santiago Yahuarcani already on display. Tue entry free. Open through Carnaval
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—Itaú Cultural tonight: Bloco Afro É Di Santo at 20h (free, Av. Paulista 149). A Carnaval percussion show celebrating ancestrality and Afro-Brazilian culture
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Carnaval 2026 officially begins today in São Paulo — and it starts with its most powerful cultural statement. Tonight at 19h, the Bloco Afro Ilú Obá de Min opens the street Carnaval from Praça da República with 400 performers in a cortejo that blends ancestral percussion, dance, and political memory. This year’s enredo, “Ifátinuké – Iyá-Olobá do Axé Transatlântico,” honours an African priestess who founded one of the most important terreiros in Brazilian history. It is the 21st consecutive year that Ilú Obá opens the folia in São Paulo — a tradition that has become as essential to the city’s Carnaval identity as the Anhembi itself.
This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of São Paulo business and economic developments.
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And at the Anhembi, the stakes are high. The Grupo Especial Night 1 begins at 23h with seven schools parading through the night: Mocidade Unida da Mooca opens the proceedings, followed by Colorado do Brás, Dragões da Real, Acadêmicos do Tatuapé, defending champion Rosas de Ouro (on at approximately 03h20), Vai-Vai, and Barroca Zona Sul. Night 2 tomorrow brings Império da Casa Verde, Águia de Ouro, Mocidade Alegre, and Gaviões da Fiel. The apuração is on Tuesday Feb 17.
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\nSão Paulo Daily Brief for Friday, February 13, 2026. (Photo Internet reproduction)
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The Metrô begins its 24-hour Carnaval operation tonight: Lines 1-Azul, 2-Verde, 3-Vermelha, and 15-Prata run through the night, with embarque permitted at Portuguesa-Tietê and Palmeiras-Barra Funda. All other stations remain open for desembarque and transfers only. Free “Atende” buses connect both stations to the Sambódromo do Anhembi from 18h. CPTM, ViaMobilidade, and the private metro lines (4-Amarela, 5-Lilás) all operate with 24h desembarque through the weekend.
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The Ibovespa enters Carnaval near record highs. Wednesday’s session (Feb 11) saw the index breach 190,000 points intraday for the first time, closing at 189,699 — the 11th all-time high of 2026. Thursday brought a correction to 187,766 (-1.02%) on bank-sector profit-taking and a selloff on Wall Street. The dollar closed Thursday at R$5.20, after touching R$5.15 intraday — the lowest since May 2024. B3 is open today (last session before Carnaval), then closed Monday and Tuesday, reopening Wednesday Feb 18 at 13h. For expats, the real near R$5.15–5.20 remains the most favourable exchange-rate window since mid-2024.
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03
\nCulture & Events
\nWhat to see & do
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Blocos de Rua — Opening Night
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Bloco Afro Ilú Obá de Min — Official Carnaval Opening
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Praça da República, 386, Centro — 19h–23h — Free
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The bloco that officially opens São Paulo’s street Carnaval every year. For its 21st anniversary, Ilú Obá de Min presents “Ópera Negra Obaomin – A Soberania de Yemanjá Ogunté,” honouring Ifátinuké, an African priestess who founded the Terreiro Iemanjá Ogunté in Pernambuco. The cortejo features 400 performers — 99 agogôs, 58 xequerês, 71 djembês, 91 alfaias, 37 dancers, 15 stilt-walkers — parading from Praça da República through Avenida São Luís to Largo do Paissandu.
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THE bloco to see tonight. There is nothing else like this in Brazilian Carnaval — part cortejo, part opera, part political act. Second desfile on Sunday 15 at 14h from Cia Livre, Barra Funda.
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Banda do Trem Elétrico
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Rua Augusta, 1300, Consolação — 18h–23h — Free
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Founded in 1984 by the Sindicato dos Metroviários, this is one of São Paulo’s oldest and most traditional blocos. The cortejo runs down Rua Augusta to Praça Ramos de Azevedo, electrifying Centro with classic marchinhas and samba. A Carnaval institution that draws a cross-generational crowd. Route: R. Augusta, R. Martins Fontes, R. Cel. Xavier de Toledo, Praça Ramos de Azevedo.
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Charanga do França
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Centro — 19h30 — Free
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Created by musician Thiago França, A Espetacular Charanga do França is known for its adventurous mix of marchinhas, samba, and instrumental brass arrangements. A sophisticated, musically literate bloco that draws a crowd from the Barra Funda and Vila Buarque creative scenes. One of the most respected names in São Paulo’s Carnaval de rua.
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Sambódromo do Anhembi — Grupo Especial Night 1
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Grupo Especial — Night 1 at the Anhembi
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Sambódromo do Anhembi, Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209, Santana — Gates 19h, first school 23h — ligasp.com.br
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Seven schools parade tonight in order: (1) Mocidade Unida da Mooca at 23h, (2) Colorado do Brás at 0h05, (3) Dragões da Real at 1h10, (4) Acadêmicos do Tatuapé at 2h15, (5) Rosas de Ouro (defending champion) at 3h20, (6) Vai-Vai at 4h25, (7) Barroca Zona Sul at 5h30. Enredos range from Chico Xavier (Colorado do Brás) to the history of the universe (Tatuapé) to witches (Barroca Zona Sul). Apuração: Tuesday Feb 17.
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Tickets still available via Clube do Ingresso. Arquibancadas from R$40 (meia). Children under 6 not permitted. No food, drinks, or umbrellas allowed inside.
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Museums & Exhibitions
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MASP — Histórias Latino-Americanas (2026 Cycle)
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Av. Paulista, 1578 — Tue–Sun 10–18h (Thu until 20h) — R$60 / Tue free
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The MASP’s 2026 curatorial cycle is dedicated to Histórias Latino-Americanas, with exhibitions opening throughout the year. Currently on display: works by Sandra Gamarra, La Chola Poblete, Claudia Alarcón, and Santiago Yahuarcani. The major Colectivo Acciones de Arte show opens in April, followed by Damián Ortega in May. Open through Carnaval.
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Why it matters for expats: The MASP is one of the few major museums open every day of Carnaval. Free entry on Tuesdays. A perfect Carnaval escape for the bloco-averse.
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Itaú Cultural — Bloco Afro É Di Santo (Tonight)
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Av. Paulista, 149, Bela Vista — 20h — Free (reserve via INTI platform)
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A Carnaval show by the Bloco Afro É Di Santo, celebrating ancestrality, Afro-Brazilian spirituality, and street Carnaval culture through live percussion and dance. An indoor alternative to the outdoor blocos, on the Avenida Paulista, with free entry.
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Pinacoteca de São Paulo — Vitalidade Programme
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Praça da Luz, 2, Bom Retiro — Wed–Mon 10–18h — R$30 / Sat free
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The Pinacoteca’s 2026 programme centres on “vitalidade” — health, well-being, and transformative force. Pascale Marthine Tayou’s first Brazilian individual opens in March at Pina Luz. Currently: the permanent collection across three buildings (Pina Luz, Pina Estação, Pina Contemporânea). Free Saturdays.
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Parque Ibirapuera — Carnaval Activities
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Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/n, Vila Mariana — Today 14–16h, Sat–Sun 10–15h — Free
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Free Carnaval workshops in the park: mask-making, instrument-building with recycled materials, and a group cortejo through the gardens. Family-friendly programming today, Saturday, and Sunday. Tomorrow the megablocos arrive — Sertanejinho do Teló (11h), Agrada Gregos (13h), Bloco da Latinha Mix with Marcelo Falcão (13h) — all at the Obelisco.
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04
\nTransport & Getting Around
\nKnow before you go
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Metrô SP
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24H CARNAVAL OPERATION
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Lines 1-Azul, 2-Verde, 3-Vermelha, and 15-Prata run 24h tonight (Fri–Sat). Embarque permitted only at Portuguesa-Tietê (L1) and Palmeiras-Barra Funda (L3). All other stations: desembarque and transfers only. Saturday night: ALL stations open for embarque. Sunday night: back to Portuguesa-Tietê/Barra Funda only. Estação República: Praça, Barão, and 7 de Abril entrances may close during bloco hours.
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CPTM & Concessions
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24H DESEMBARQUE
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CPTM Lines 10, 11, 12, 13: 24h operation Fri–Mon. Palmeiras-Barra Funda open for embarque; all other stations desembarque only. Lines 4-Amarela and 5-Lilás: embarque until midnight, desembarque 24h. Lines 8-Diamante and 9-Esmeralda: same pattern. Buy return tickets in advance — bilheterias may have long queues after midnight.
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Buses & Anhembi Shuttles
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SPECIAL OPERATION
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Free “Atende” shuttle buses run from Portuguesa-Tietê and Palmeiras-Barra Funda to the Sambódromo do Anhembi from 18h through all parade hours. SPTrans frota: Saturday-level service (6,843 vehicles) on Sat/Mon/Tue. Sunday: Domingão Tarifa Zero — all city buses free on Feb 15.
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Road Closures & Rideshare
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RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT
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Bloco routes in Centro, Consolação, and Bela Vista will have rolling closures from 18h today. CET has not yet published full Carnaval road maps — check cetsp.com.br. Uber/99 surge pricing expected near Anhembi and Ibirapuera. Metro is faster and cheaper for all Carnaval destinations.
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Transport tip: For the Anhembi tonight, take the metro to Portuguesa-Tietê (L1) and catch the free Atende shuttle from there. Gates open at 19h, the first school (Mocidade Unida da Mooca) enters at 23h, and the last (Barroca Zona Sul) finishes around 7h. You will be travelling home in the early morning — Portuguesa-Tietê and Barra Funda are your only embarque stations. Buy your return ticket before the parade starts.
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05
\nFood & Drink
\nWhere to eat
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Restaurant Picks
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→ Bar da Dona Onça, Centro (Edifício Copan) — Classic paulistana fare. Bolinho de arroz, torresmo, feijoada on Saturdays. R$40–70. Open through Carnaval, expect queues
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→ Mocotó, Vila Medeiros — Rodrigo Oliveira’s celebrated Northeastern kitchen. Baião de dois, carne de sol, rapadura ice cream. R$60–100. The most authentically Brazilian restaurant in São Paulo
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Coffee & Cafés
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→ Coffee Lab, Vila Madalena — Isabela Raposeiras’ specialty roastery. Single-origin espresso from R$12. A quiet Carnaval escape for coffee lovers
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→ Padaria Santa Tereza, Bela Vista — Neighbourhood bakery since the 1950s. Pão na chapa and café coado (R$8). Open early, perfect pre-bloco fuel
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Carnaval Survival — Anhembi Edition
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→ No food or drinks allowed inside the Anhembi. Camarotes have open bar/open food. Arquibancada visitors: eat a full meal before entry and hydrate heavily — you will be there from 19h to 7h
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→ Bloco survival kit: water bottle, electrolyte sachets, sunscreen, rain poncho (for today’s 60% PM rain). Cash in small bills (R$5/10/20) for street vendors
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06
\nPractical Information
\nNeed to know
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Money & Rates
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→ USD/BRL: R$5.20 (Thu close R$5.199 — touched R$5.154 intraday, lowest since May 2024)
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→ EUR/BRL: approx. R$6.16
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→ Selic rate: 15.00% (next Copom meeting March)
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→ Banks OPEN today (last full business day). Closed Mon 16 & Tue 17 (feriado bancário). Wed 18: reopen at 12h. Pix and ATMs function 24/7. Poupatempo closed Mon 16 and Tue 17. Fazenda offices closed Sat–Tue, reopen Wed 18 at 12h
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Health & Safety
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→ Dengue season active — repellent at dusk, especially near parks and lagoons
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→ Metrô security reinforced with drones, bolsões de segurança, and extra staff at bloco-adjacent stations. SMS-Denúncia: text 9 7333-2252
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→ Phone safety: pochete (belt bag), front pocket, minimal cash. Leave passports at home
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→ Operação Lei Seca active at strategic points — do not drive after drinking
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Carnaval Calendar
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→ Anhembi schedule: Grupo Especial Fri 13 & Sat 14 / Acesso I Sun 15 / Apuração Tue 17 / Desfile das Campeãs Sat 21
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→ Street blocos: Official period Sat 14–Tue 17 (630 blocos). Pós-Carnaval: Sat 21 & Sun 22
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→ Holiday status: Ponto facultativo today (Fri 13) for government offices — varies by state/municipality. Banks and B3 open. Mon 16 & Tue 17: feriado bancário, B3 closed. Only Tue 17 is official national feriado
→ InterNations São Paulo — active WhatsApp groups for Carnaval meetups. Check the app for group bloco outings this weekend
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→ First Carnaval? Start with Ilú Obá tonight (19h, Praça da República) — it is a contained, cultural experience, not a chaotic megabloco. Perfect for first-timers
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Sports & Fitness
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→ Parque Ibirapuera — open for runs and walks. Note: megablocos take over the Obelisco area from Saturday — plan routes accordingly
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→ Parque Villa-Lobos — quieter alternative for runners during Carnaval. Open 05h30–19h
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Families & Children
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→ Parque Ibirapuera Carnaval workshops: mask-making and percussion with recycled materials today 14–16h. Free, no booking needed
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→ The Cavern Club SP (Vila Olímpia) — Beatles 4 Kids Carnaval show, Sat 17h and Sun 15h. R$100 meia / R$200 inteira. Music, dance, and family fun with a British twist
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→ Anhembi note: children under 6 not permitted at samba school parades. Ages 6–12 require parental accompaniment. Ages 13–17 require an adult companion
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08
\nSports
\nScores & fixtures
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Brasileirão Série A — Carnaval Break
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→ Brasileirão paused for Carnaval. Round 4 resumes after Quarta-feira de Cinzas (mid-week)
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→ Standings after R3: São Paulo lead with 7 pts. Flamengo and Fortaleza on 6 pts
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→ Last results: São Paulo 2–0 Grêmio (Lucas Moura pen, Calleri 57′). Corinthians and Palmeiras played Wed night
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Paulistão
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→ Paulistão on Carnaval break. Next matches resume after Quarta-feira de Cinzas
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→ São Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, and Santos all idle until mid-week resumption
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Sports note: Both the Brasileirão and Paulistão are on Carnaval break. São Paulo lead the national championship with 7 points after three rounds, with Lucas Moura and Calleri both scoring in Wednesday’s 2–0 win over Grêmio at Morumbis. Football resumes after Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Until then, the Sambódromo is the only arena that matters.
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09
\nBusiness & Markets
\nMarket watch
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→ B3 OPEN today — last trading session before Carnaval. Closed Mon 16 & Tue 17. Reopens Wed Feb 18 at 13h
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→ Ibovespa: Thu close 187,766 (-1.02%). Wed record close 189,699 (+2.03%) — 11th record of 2026, breached 190,000 intraday. Thu correction led by Braskem (-11.3%), Raízen (-11.7%); BB (+4.5%) and Ambev (+5.6%) bucked the trend after strong Q4 earnings
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→ Foreign capital inflows: R$26.3bn in January + R$4.2bn in February = approx. R$30.5bn year-to-date
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→ Government offices: Ponto facultativo today (Fri 13) varies by decree. Mon 16 ponto facultativo. Tue 17 official feriado. Wed 18: banks from 12h, B3 from 13h. Full operations resume Thu 19
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Market trend: The Ibovespa enters Carnaval near its highest-ever close. Wednesday’s session breached 190,000 intraday for the first time, closing at a record 189,699 — the 11th record of 2026. Thursday saw a correction to 187,766 (-1.02%) as global tech fears and bank-sector profit-taking weighed on sentiment. B3 is open today for one final session before closing Monday and Tuesday, reopening Wednesday at 13h. The rally has been driven by persistent foreign capital inflows (R$30.5bn year-to-date, already exceeding all of 2025) and expectations that the Selic cutting cycle may begin as early as the March Copom meeting. The real at R$5.15–5.20 to the dollar is near its strongest in 21 months.
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→ Coworking during Carnaval — most spaces closed through Tuesday. WeWork units vary; check directly. Full productivity resumes Wednesday.
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10
\nWeek Ahead
\nPlan ahead
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Carnaval Week (Sat–Tue)
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→ Sat Feb 14 — Anhembi: Grupo Especial Night 2 (Império da Casa Verde, Águia de Ouro, Mocidade Alegre, Gaviões da Fiel, Tom Maior, Camisa Verde e Branco). Megablocos at Ibirapuera: Sertanejinho do Teló 11h, Agrada Gregos 13h (with Glória Groove), Bloco da Latinha Mix 13h. Tarado Ni Você (Caetano tribute) at Ipiranga/São João 11h
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→ Sun Feb 15 — Anhembi: Grupo de Acesso I (8 schools). Domingão Tarifa Zero — all city buses free. Ilú Obá de Min second cortejo (14h, Cia Livre, Barra Funda). BenJores (Gilberto Gil tribute) 11h. Cordão da Padilha 13h
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→ Mon Feb 16 — Charanga do França (Vila Buarque 9h). Pabllo Vittar megabloco (Ibirapuera Obelisco 13h). Filhos de Gil (Moema 13h). No Anhembi parades
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→ Tue Feb 17 — Official feriado. Apuração at Anhembi (results announced). Galo da Madrugada SP (Ibirapuera, morning). Bloco Súbete (Bela Vista 13h, Latin rhythms). Last day of official folia
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→ Wed Feb 18 — Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Banks reopen at 12h. B3 reopens at 13h. City returns to normal. Bom Prato limited service
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→ Sat Feb 21 — Desfile das Campeãs at Anhembi. Pós-Carnaval blocos: BaianaSystem Navio Pirata (Ibirapuera 15h). Metro 24h again (Sat–Sun)
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→ Sun Feb 22 — Pós-Carnaval final day: Pedro Sampaio Bloco Beats (Ibirapuera 13h), Daniela Mercury Pipoca da Rainha (Consolação), Leo Santana Vem com o Gigante (Obelisco 9h)
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Looking ahead: São Paulo’s Carnaval 2026 is enormous in scope — 630 registered blocos across every neighbourhood, two nights of Grupo Especial at the Anhembi, Pabllo Vittar’s megabloco on Monday, Daniela Mercury’s Pipoca da Rainha on the pós-Carnaval weekend, and free city buses on Sunday. The Desfile das Campeãs on Feb 21 is the smart alternative if you miss the Grupo Especial nights. Tonight, the city officially transforms: Ilú Obá opens the streets, the Anhembi opens the Sambódromo, and the folia begins.
