Rio de Janeiro has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the host of the world’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration — on Copacabana Beach in 2025. File Photo by Marcelo Sayao/EPA
Rio de Janeiro has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the host of the world’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration after authorities verified that about 2.5 million people gathered on Copacabana Beach to welcome in 2025.
The certification was presented days before the city’s annual Reveillon, during a ceremony on the beachfront attended by Mayor Eduardo Paes and Guinness representative Camila Borenstein.
The record recognizes not only the number of attendees but also the scale, artistic production and cultural relevance of the event.
Guinness said the verification process included a comprehensive review of official data, aerial imagery and drone-based counts to confirm attendance. The organization also cited Rio’s capacity to implement safety protocols, sustainability measures and large-scale logistics across a densely populated urban coastline.
“Few cities in the world can organize events for this many people, year after year,” Paes said during the ceremony, according to city officials.
City officials said the 2.5 million figure refers to Copacabana alone and does not include crowds at other New Year’s Eve celebrations across Rio, where additional stages and concerts typically draw millions more. Authorities estimate total citywide attendance can reach about 5 million people.
Brazilian outlet Billboard Brasil reported that Wednesday night’s Copacabana event will feature three main stages, including one dedicated to gospel music. The lineup is expected to include prominent Brazilian artists such as Gilberto Gil, Ney Matogrosso, Belo, Alcione and Alok.
Organizers also plan a 12-minute fireworks display launched from 19 floating platforms offshore, accompanied by about 1,200 drones programmed to create synchronized light formations over the Atlantic.
Officials highlighted sustainability as a core component of the event with measures that include large-scale waste management, carbon offset initiatives and accessibility planning aimed at accommodating people with disabilities along the beachfront.
The celebration traditionally runs from late afternoon into the early morning hours, with the closing performance led by the percussion ensemble of the samba school Beija-Flor.
