Rio de Janeiro unveils massive New Year’s eve plan

The authorities of Rio de Janeiro have presented the operational plan for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, which will turn the city into a vast open-air stage with 13 stages, an impressive fireworks display, and a large-scale security and mobility operation.

The program includes more than 70 shows spread across the city, with the famous Copacabana beachfront as the focal point of the events, CE Report quotes ANSA.

Three stages will be set up here: the main stage, in front of the Copacabana Palace, will host Gilberto Gil with special appearances by Ney Matogrosso, Belo, and Alcione in the same show; João Gomes with Iza; DJ Alok with a performance accompanied by 1,200 drones; and, closing the night, the samba school Beija-Flor. There will also be a stage dedicated to samba and another to gospel music. In Copacabana alone, around 2.5 million people are expected for New Year’s Eve.

The arrival of the new year will traditionally be marked by a 12-minute fireworks choreography, launched from 19 barges along the shoreline. Fireworks displays are also planned in other neighborhoods, including Flamengo, Penha, and Ilha do Governador.

As reported by CE Report, in terms of mobility, access to Copacabana will be almost exclusively via public transportation. Security will be reinforced with 3,500 officers, mandatory checks at beach access points, metal detectors, and facial recognition systems. In total, around 7,500 municipal workers from 11 agencies will be involved in managing the event. According to official estimates, New Year’s Eve will generate an economic impact of over 500 million euros, confirming the “Réveillon” as one of the largest urban events in the world.