Beija-Flor de Nilópolis emerged as the champion of the 2025 Rio de Janeiro Carnival, securing a flawless 260 points during the judging held on Ash Wednesday, March 5, at Cidade do Samba. Following three electrifying nights of parades at the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambódromo from March 2 to 4, the school outshone fierce competitors like Imperatriz Leopoldinense, Viradouro, and Grande Rio, claiming its 15th title in the history of the Grupo Especial. The enredo “Laíla de Todos os Santos,” a tribute to the legendary carnival director Luiz Fernando Ribeiro do Carmo, who passed away in 2021, captivated both the audience and judges, marking a triumphant farewell for Neguinho da Beija-Flor after 50 years as the school’s lead singer. The judging, starting at 4:05 PM and broadcast live by TV Globo and g1, unfolded as a nail-biting contest, with Beija-Flor taking the lead in the final stretch.
Achieving perfect scores across all nine judging categories from 36 jurors, Beija-Flor excelled in comissão de frente, enredo, fantasias, and evolução, showcasing unmatched consistency and artistry. Imperatriz trailed closely with 259.8 points for second place, while Viradouro and Mangueira, both scoring 259.4, were separated by the tiebreaker of comissão de frente. The victory celebrated a parade that revisited iconic moments, such as the recreation of the 1989 “Cristo Mendigo,” and featured special appearances, including Russian supermodel Irina Shayk’s Sambódromo debut. Meanwhile, Unidos de Padre Miguel, with the lowest score, faces relegation to Série Ouro in 2026.
The festivities don’t end with the judging: the top six schools—Beija-Flor, Imperatriz, Viradouro, Mangueira, Salgueiro, and a sixth to be confirmed—will return for the Champions’ Parade on Saturday, March 8. Beija-Flor’s triumph, anticipated alongside Grande Rio, solidifies its status as the most successful school of the 21st century, now boasting nine titles since 2000, cementing a legacy of resilience and passion in Rio’s carnival scene.
OBRIGADO, COMUNIDADE SOBERANA! ????????????
— GRES Beija-Flor ???? (@BeijaFlorReal) March 4, 2025
Essa noite mostramos a força da nossa comunidade, o compromisso dos nossos componentes e a potência da nossa história. É a volta do rolo compressor!
LAÍLA DE TODOS OS SANTOS, LAÍLA DE TODOS OS SAMBAS ???? #beijaflor2025 #carnaval2025 pic.twitter.com/TF7Olw660u
Historic parade marks Neguinho’s farewell
Neguinho da Beija-Flor, at 75, concluded his 50-year tenure as the school’s lead singer in grand style. During the judging, he erupted in joy with each perfect 10 announced, especially in the penultimate category that clinched Beija-Flor’s lead. The March 4 parade, on the second night of the Grupo Especial, was his final performance at the Sapucaí, fulfilling his pre-show dream of retiring with a championship title.
The enredo paid homage to Laíla, a transformative figure in Beija-Flor’s history, tracing his childhood, devotion to orixás, and collaboration with Joãosinho Trinta. The school delivered a moving narrative, culminating in the reimagined “Cristo Mendigo,” a symbol from the censored 1989 parade, now reborn as an act of freedom and remembrance.
Categories highlight fierce competition
Judging revealed Beija-Flor’s dominance, though the race was tight. After five categories, Beija-Flor and Imperatriz shared the lead, both unscathed by deductions. In the seventh category, fantasias, Imperatriz dropped 0.1 points, allowing Beija-Flor to pull ahead with 210 points to 209.9. In the final category, evolução, Beija-Flor maintained perfection, while Grande Rio, a strong contender, fell one-tenth short until the end.
The order of category readings, set by a pre-judging draw from Liesa, began with harmonia and ended with evolução, with comissão de frente as the first tiebreaker. This proved pivotal for third place, where Viradouro edged out Mangueira, both tied at 259.4 points.
Timeline of parades and judging
The 2025 Grupo Especial parades marked a historic shift, expanding from two to three nights of performances between March 2 and 4. Key dates of Rio’s carnival include:
- March 2: First night, spotlighting Imperatriz and Viradouro.
- March 3: Second night, led by Beija-Flor and Salgueiro.
- March 4: Third night, featuring Grande Rio and Portela.
- March 5: Judging at 4:05 PM, crowning Beija-Flor champion.
- March 8: Champions’ Parade with the top six schools.
This expansion gave all 12 schools greater visibility, with parade times ranging from 70 to 80 minutes, each minute over or under incurring a 0.1-point penalty.
Final scores breakdown
Beija-Flor topped the rankings with 260 points, narrowly ahead of its rivals. Imperatriz secured 259.8 points, losing a tenth in fantasias, while Viradouro and Mangueira tied at 259.4, with Viradouro taking third via tiebreaker. Salgueiro scored 259.2 for fifth, and Unidos de Padre Miguel’s low tally confirmed its relegation. The judging process discarded the lowest score per category, ensuring fairness across the 36 jurors’ evaluations.
Beija-Flor’s flawless marks in comissão de frente, bateria, and enredo were decisive, while Grande Rio’s praised third-night performance landed it among the top six for the Champions’ Parade.
Laíla tribute moves the Sambódromo
The enredo “Laíla de Todos os Santos” honored Luiz Fernando Ribeiro do Carmo, known as Laíla, who shaped Beija-Flor into a carnival powerhouse. Passing away in 2021 from Covid-19 complications, he was celebrated across every ala, spotlighting his faith in Xangô and his symbolic reunion with Joãosinho Trinta. The parade revived the “Cristo Mendigo,” banned in 1989, now a powerful statement of liberty and legacy.
Russian supermodel Irina Shayk’s debut as a highlight added a global flair, dazzling the 70,000 spectators at the Sapucaí. School president Almir Reis hailed the return of Beija-Flor’s “steamroller” energy, a force that propelled them to victory.
Standout moments from judging
The note-reading at Cidade do Samba was charged with drama and excitement. Beija-Flor took the lead after seven categories, with Neguinho celebrating each perfect score. Imperatriz faltered in fantasias, and Grande Rio stayed close until the final tally. Unidos de Padre Miguel members exited early, aware of their relegation as scores lagged.
The champion earned its spot in the Champions’ Parade, set to also honor actress Fernanda Torres and the Oscar-winning film “Ainda Estou Aqui.” Scheduled for March 8, the event will cap the carnival with festivity and prestige.
Fun facts about the Beija-Flor victory
Beija-Flor’s win brought notable highlights to the 2025 Carnival. Here are some standout facts:
- Most successful school of the 21st century, now with 9 titles since 2000.
- Neguinho retires with 15 championships over 50 years.
- “Cristo Mendigo” returns after 36 years, uncensored.
- Irina Shayk, 39, debuts as an international highlight.
These details underscore Beija-Flor’s cultural and historical impact, blending tradition with bold innovation.
Legacy strengthened in Rio’s carnival
With 14 prior titles, Beija-Flor was already Rio’s third most victorious school, behind Portela (22) and Mangueira (20). The 2025 win raises its tally to 15, narrowing the gap with the historic leaders and reinforcing its recent dominance. The parade, merging heritage and creativity, enthralled 70,000 live attendees and millions of viewers, affirming Beija-Flor’s prowess.
Completed around 6 PM, the judging capped a balanced contest and sparked celebrations in Nilópolis, where the community is already planning a 2026 enredo to honor Laíla again. This victory cements Beija-Flor as a beacon of resilience and joy in the world’s greatest carnival spectacle.
