The main part of the festival is the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, bringing two million people a day to the streets. The authorities expect one million tourists to come to the city, with 30 percent of those as foreign visitors.
Highlights of this year’s extravaganza – in our photo gallery.
1/16
© AP Photo / Andre Penner
Above: Dancers from the Vai-Vai samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, February 7, 2016.
2/16
© AP Photo / Andre Penner
Above: Dancers from the Imperio de Casa Verde samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, February 7, 2016.
3/16
© AP Photo / Eraldo Peres
Above: Tens of thousands of people take part in the “Galo da Madruga” or The Dawn Rooster carnival parade, in the downtown of Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Above: Revelers parade for the Mocidade Alegre samba school during the carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 7, 2016.
Above: Revelers takes a selfie during the "Galo da Madrugada" (Rooster of the Morning) Carnival parade in Recife, Brazil February 6, 2016.
Above: Revelers of the Imperio de Casa Verde samba school perform during the second night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 6 2016.
Above: A carnival reveler and her dog take part in the "Blocao" or dog carnival parade during carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 6, 2016.
8/16
© AP Photo / Andre Penner
Above: Brazilian model and comedian Sabrina Sato from the Gavioes da Fiel samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Above: Revelers parade for the Vai-Vai samba school during the carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 7, 2016.
10/16
© AP Photo / Felipe Dana
Above: Young revelers joke with each other as they lay on the shade during the "Burial of the Mosquito" carnival block parade in Olinda, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Friday, February 5, 2016.
Above: A reveler parades for the Vai-Vai samba school during the carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 7, 2016.
Above: Revellers parade for the Vai-Vai samba school during the carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 7, 2016
13/16
© AP Photo / Leo Correa
Above: A couple kisses during the "Carmelitas" block party, during Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, February 5, 2016.
Above: Revelers of the Vai-Vai samba school perform honoring France with their performance "Je suis Vai-Vai. Bem-Vindos a França!" during the second night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 7, 2016.
Above: Revelers of the Academicos do Tucuruvi samba school perform during the second night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 6, 2016.
Above: A reveler parades for the Unidos do Peruche samba school during the carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 6, 2016.
