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What happens at the Sambadrome during Rio de Janeiro's Carnival?

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Aerial view of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, showing the city's buildings, Sugarloaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay with boats, and surrounding green hills. — Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

During Rio de Janeiro's Carnival, the Sambadrome serves as the primary venue for the highly anticipated samba competitions.12

The Sambadrome is an elongated stadium designed by Oscar Niemeyer that hosts thousands of spectators. During the festival, the city's samba schools—which function as community-based clubs—compete against one another in elaborate parades. Each school involves thousands of participants, including musicians and dancers, who perform in intricate, hand-crafted costumes alongside elaborate floats that have been in preparation for much of the year.1234

While Carnival celebrations take place throughout the city, including street parties and festivities along Copacabana beach, the Sambadrome is the central stage for the most extravagant and formal expressions of the competition.124