The Queen of Samba brought down the house at Rio’s most exclusive box alongside Mangueira’s Old Guard to close out Carnival 2026.
Alcione — godmother of the VerdeRosa box and one of Brazil’s most iconic samba voices — took the stage on Champions’ Saturday, February 21, 2026, alongside the Velha Guarda Musical da Mangueira and Cacá Nascimento. The night marked the close of VerdeRosa’s second year on the Sambadrome avenue, and the energy was nothing short of electric.
A Tribute to Samba’s Greatest School
The celebration doubled as a heartfelt tribute to Mangueira, widely regarded as the greatest samba school on the planet. Bringing the Velha Guarda — the living guardians of the school’s musical legacy — to the VerdeRosa stage was a powerful statement about tradition and pride. Over six nights of parades, the box had already spotlighted leading female voices in Brazilian music, making the final night a fitting culmination.
Alcione’s bond with Mangueira is deeply personal. The singer from Maranhão built her career on the foundations of Rio’s samba culture, and her presence alongside the Velha Guarda felt less like a performance and more like a homecoming.
Six Nights of Premium Carnival Experience
Throughout Carnival, VerdeRosa positioned itself as the most exclusive venue on the Marquês de Sapucaí, blending world-class gastronomy, tourism — in partnership with Embratur — and top Brazilian brands. The box is a joint venture between BarizON Entretenimento and Mangueira, and it has rapidly grown into a benchmark for premium live experiences at RioCarnaval.
VerdeRosa closes its second year on the avenue with a tribute to the rich history of Estação Primeira de Mangueira, the greatest samba school on the planet.
Photo: João Falcão
