Applications for Rio de Janeiro's 2027 Carnival Court are open from September 18 to October 19, 2026. There is no application fee, and the selection will choose four members of the Royal Court and three members of the LGBT+ Court. Applications may be submitted by email or delivered in person at Riotur's headquarters in Cidade Nova.
What applicants need to know first
- Application period: September 18, 2026 to October 19, 2026.
- Fee: there is no application fee.
- How to submit: by email or in person at Riotur.
- In-person service: Rua Dom Marcos Barbosa, 2, 2nd floor, Cidade Nova, Operations Department, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Deadline for clarification requests: October 14, 2026, through the same contact channels.
Which positions are being selected
The Royal Court will have four representatives: Rei Momo, Queen, First Princess and Second Princess. The LGBT+ Court will have three representatives: Muso, Musa and Non-Binary Person.
Who can apply
According to the information released for the contest, applicants must be 18 or older, live in the State of Rio de Janeiro and have completed elementary education. Candidates for the Muso, Musa or Non-Binary Person positions must also identify as members of the LGBT+ community.
How to submit an application
The first step is to request or pick up the regulations and application form. For the Royal Court, the contact provided is cortereal.carnavalrj@prefeitura.rio. For the LGBT+ Court, it is cortelgbt.carnavalrj@prefeitura.rio. The same documents may also be collected in person at Riotur's headquarters.
After completing the form, the applicant should follow the applicable regulations and send the application through the correct Court channel or deliver it in person. The public information consulted does not provide a complete list of every document required for each application. Applicants should therefore review the regulations before submitting and confirm which attachments, proof and declarations must accompany the form.
Checklist before submitting
- Choose whether to apply for the Royal Court or the LGBT+ Court and identify the position sought.
- Request the regulations and form through the correct email address or collect them at Riotur.
- Confirm the basic age, residence and education requirements, plus the specific LGBT+ Court requirement when applicable.
- Complete the form and gather every document required by the regulations.
- Submit the application by October 19 through the corresponding email address or deliver it in person during service hours.
- If you have questions about rules or documentation, send a clarification request by October 14.
Confirmed contest dates
| Stage | Royal Court | LGBT+ Court |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | 09/18 to 10/19/2026 | 09/18 to 10/19/2026 |
| Order draw | 10/29/2026 | Not stated in the information consulted |
| Elimination round or semifinal | 11/06 and 11/07/2026 | 11/05/2026 |
| Final | 11/14/2026 | 11/13/2026 |
The November stages will include programming connected to samba and Carnival. The attractions were still to be announced by the organizers.
How candidates will be evaluated
Evaluation will be carried out by a committee appointed by Riotur. The announced criteria are Communication, Joy, Cadence and Samba no Pé, with scores from 5 to 10 and decimal scores allowed. In the event of a tie, the announced order of tie-breakers starts with Samba no Pé, followed by Cadence, Communication and Joy, plus the other criteria provided in the regulations.
What still needs to be checked in the regulations
Although the application announcement provides the deadline, channels, basic eligibility requirements and main schedule, candidates should only submit after reading the regulations. That is where applicants should confirm the mandatory documentation, the specific rules for the position sought and any other selection requirements. It is also advisable to follow Riotur's official channels for possible updates to dates, attractions and operational instructions.
Where to follow official information
The main reference is Riotur's publication on the 2027 Carnival Court applications. Institutional notices and documents can also be followed in Riotur's notices and announcements section.
