The 4 Best New Year’s Eve Parties in Rio de Janeiro

Rio is a world-famous New Year’s Eve destination, and for good reason!

The whole city is filled with private parties for all tastes besides the world-famous free celebration at Copacabana beach.

My Brazilian friends and I have partied a lot around Rio, and here is our curation of the best NYE parties in Rio!

1. Copacabana Beach

Helpful information
📍 Location: The main stage is across from the Copacabana Palace, but all of Copacabana Beach will be filled with crowds and smaller stages
💸 Cost: FREE!
🎥 Videos from previous years: Vlog from Vort-C Ambience

The free new year’s celebration at Copacabana Beach is a huge celebration, literally!

With over 2 million visitors yearly, it is the biggest NYE party in the world!

The celebration takes place on the sandy beach and includes a fireworks show, live music by major Brazilian artists, and local vendors.

Because of the sheer size of the crowd, car traffic in the area is closed for quite a few hours, making getting in and out of the celebration incredibly challenging unless you’re in a hotel within walking distance of the party.

Huge crowds are also a magnet for petty crime, so if you choose to celebrate NYE at Copacabana Beach, make sure to be alert and follow all the safety recommendations for traveling in Brazil.

2. Reveillon do Morro (at Morro da Urca)

Helpful information
📍 Location: Sugarloaf Cable Car
💸 Cost: ~R$1K – R$3.5K
👩🏻‍💻 Official website: https://www.instagram.com/reveillondomorro/
🎥 Videos from previous years: Promo Video

Morro da Urca (and the Sugarloaf Mountain) are not only a major postcard, but also one of Rio’s best event venues!

Their NYE celebration is called Reveillon do Morro, and official tickets are sold on Shotgun.

What makes Sugarloaf Mountain’s NYE particularly amazing during NYE is that those holding premium tickets can watch the Copacabana fireworks from above!

Their NYE party is an upscale all inclusive experience. Yes, you can drink all the sparkling wine and eat all the food you want!

In my experience, the food was plenty and delicious. Also, the event is very long and fun!

The party started at around 8 PM serving dinner, and when I left at 8 AM, they were serving breakfast!

Throughout the night, they have multiple stages playing different styles of music, from electronic to samba. I found myself constantly entertained for the 12 hours I spent there.

Their tickets typically sell out about a month before the event, but it is best to buy them as early as possible because prices usually more than double as time passes!

If tickets are sold out when you try to shop, make sure to check resale platforms like StubHub.

3. Reveillon do Copa (at the Copacabana Palace)

Helpful information
📍 Location: Copacabana Palace Hotel
💸 Cost: ~R$5.5K
🎥 Videos from previous years: vlog by southamericatravel2

The Copacabana Palace is the one of the best-known luxury hotels in Rio (and probably in Brazil), and their NYE party truly matches that reputation.

The expensive ticket includes a premium open bar and all-you-can-eat service.

Depending on where you are within the hotel, you’ll be able to see the Copacabana fireworks from very close by and enjoy the good vibes of the crowd from a comfortable distance.

If you want to spend NYE at the Copacabana Palace, make sure to book a ticket at least 2+ months in advance, as they sell out very quickly!

4. Ocean Party Rio (at Museu do Amanhã)

Helpful information
📍 Location: Museu do Amanha
💸 Cost: ~R$550+
👩🏻‍💻 Official website: https://www.instagram.com/oceanpartyrio/
🎥 Videos from previous years: drone shot by andrealmada

Museu do Amanhã goes from museum to epic party venue on NYE!

Their yearly party, called Ocean Party Rio is known as one of the best in town.

Their giant outdoor party includes an ocean view and a music-festival style stage with a lineup usually filled with electronic music!

Though the Copacabana fireworks cannot be seen from this event, they have their own show and it does not disappoint.

Tickets are way more affordable than the other private parties, but they also sell out very quickly!

If you’re planning to party at Museu do Amanhã, make sure to book your ticket 3+ months in advance.

What to wear for New Year’s Eve in Rio?

If you want to follow the Brazilian tradition, wear white!!

Men usually go with a white linen shirt and light-colored shorts, while women often wear white dresses.

For accessories, such as jewelry and shoes, we often go with gold or silver.

If you’re partying somewhere higher up, like Morro da Urca, a sweater can make things a lot more comfortable!

Under the all-white outfit, Brazilians also care about the color of the underwear!

We usually manifest what we want for the New Year by wearing a certain color of undergarment.

If you want to partake in this tradition, here’s a quick guide to what each color means:
❤️ For love, you wear red.
🤍 For peace, go with white (the classic)
💛 For money, yellow
 💚 For hope and new beginnings, wear green
 💜 For spiritual protection, try purple

What are some NYE customs from Brazil?

Apart from wearing white and putting on colorful underwear, Brazilians have a range of superstitious customs on New Year’s Eve!

The ones I usually stick to include:

• Jumping over 7 waves in the ocean after the new year! It does not necessarily need to be at midnight, just the first time you encounter the ocean in the new year
• Carrying an empty luggage around the house, to manifest a lot of travel
• Entering home with the right foot to attract good luck

Another custom you might see when celebrating NYE in Rio is people trowing flowers into the ocean! These flowers are typically offerings to the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the seas, called  Iemanjá.

The Wrapup: Best New Year’s Eve Parties in Rio de Janeiro

New Year’s Eve in Rio is loud, beautiful, chaotic, and incredibly fun.

Each of these NYE parties in Rio offers a completely different way to experience the night, whether you want something free and or an expensive all-out celebration.

When planning a the perfect New Years in Rio, make sure to book acommodations near the party venue you’re planning to celebrate at! Avoid staying in Copacabana unless you’re planning to attend a party there.

Have a happy New Near!

Planning a trip to Rio? Don’t miss our other helpful guides:
✅ Payments and Cash in Brazil: A Complete Guide for Travelers
✅ The 6 Safest Areas to Stay in Rio de Janeiro
✅ Is Brazil safe? A travel safety guide
✅ 5 Best Places to Stay in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro
✅ The best luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro
✅ Best books about Brazil: top 3 books to read before traveling