Hotel occupancy rate for Carnival in Rio de Janeiro surpasses 95%
Hotel occupancy rate in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival reached 95.51 percent of available beds, according to the third and final forecast released by HotéisRIO, the city's hotel owners' association. In comparison, the same forecast for 2024 indicated an occupancy rate of 80.18 percent, reflecting an increase of 19.11 percent.
The survey covers the period from Saturday (Mar. 1) to Fat Tuesday (4). According to the president of HotéisRIO, the increase in occupancy from 2024 to 2025 can be attributed to Carnival taking place in March this year, which draws more visitors to the city.
The city center, where the samba school parades take place and numerous Carnival groups perform, is the most popular area. It is followed by neighborhoods in the South Zone and Barra da Tijuca in the West Zone, where the beaches share the spotlight with Carnival group performances.
Economic activity
Municipal authorities report that Carnival is expected to generate BRL 5.7 billion for the city. This estimate was made by the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development, the João Goulart Foundation, and Riotur, the public company responsible for promoting tourism in the city.
An estimated 8 million revelers are expected to attend various Carnival events, including associations’ performances, dance parties, and parades. Including the pre-Carnival period and the Saturday following the festivities (March 8), the city will host 457 authorized associations’ performances.
According to Brazil’s National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC), Carnival is expected to generate BRL 12.03 billion in revenue nationwide, marking a 2.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year, excluding inflation.
