Rio de Janeiro was officially entered into the Guinness World Records on Tuesday for the “largest New Year’s Eve celebration” in the world, with free concerts for approximately 2.5 million people gathered on Copacabana Beach.
A representative from Guinness World Records presented Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes with a plaque for the record on the main stage of this year’s festivities, scheduled for Wednesday night into Thursday, in front of the iconic Copacabana Palace Hotel.
Brazilian music legend Gilberto Gil will be one of the featured performers at the celebration.
The Rio municipality stated in a release that “this title was granted after analysis confirmed compliance with the criteria established by Guinness World Records, taking into account the record number of participants, the breadth of the artistic program, and the event’s geographic scope and cultural significance.”
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The participation of 2.5 million people was verified using images captured by drones.
The statement quoted Paes saying, “We are honored to receive this certification from Guinness. We know that no other city in the world organizes events that gather such a massive number of people with this level of consistency.”
Tourism boom despite security concerns
Copacabana Beach annually hosts crowds of revelers on December 31st, most wearing white to celebrate the New Year with spectacular fireworks displays.
The 2025-2026 edition of the celebration looks promising with 12 minutes of fireworks and 1,200 drones to light up Rio’s sky.
In total, 13 stages for free concerts were set up across the city, three of them in Copacabana where a security plan involved deploying 3,500 police officers.
Rio de Janeiro welcomed nearly two million foreign tourists between January and November, a record number, despite ongoing security challenges.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, founded in 1565, is a major Brazilian city famously known for its dramatic coastal landscape, Carnival festival, and iconic landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain. Its history is deeply tied to Portuguese colonization, serving as the capital of Brazil for nearly two centuries until 1960. The city’s vibrant culture is a fusion of indigenous, African, and European influences, evident in its music, dance, and urban neighborhoods.
Copacabana Beach
Copacabana Beach is a world-famous crescent-shaped beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, known for its vibrant atmosphere and iconic black-and-white wave-patterned sidewalk. Historically, it was a quiet fishing area until the early 20th century, when the opening of tunnels and the construction of the Copacabana Palace hotel transformed it into a glamorous urban resort.
Copacabana Palace Hotel
The Copacabana Palace Hotel is a historic luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which opened in 1923. It was designed to attract wealthy international travelers and has since become an iconic symbol of the city, famously hosting numerous celebrities and events throughout its history.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America, known for its vast Amazon rainforest and vibrant cultural mix rooted in Indigenous, Portuguese, African, and immigrant influences. Its history includes centuries of Portuguese colonization, the establishment of a monarchy and later a republic, and periods of both military dictatorship and democratic rule. The nation is globally recognized for its music, festivals like Carnival, and its passion for football.
Guinness World Records
The Guinness World Records is a reference book published annually that lists world records both of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. It originated in 1955 when Sir Hugh Beaver, managing director of the Guinness Brewery, conceived it to settle pub arguments about record-breaking facts.
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country with a rich history spanning from advanced pre-Columbian civilizations like the Aztecs and Maya to Spanish colonization in the 16th century and its eventual independence in 1821. It is renowned for its diverse cultural heritage, vibrant traditions, and significant archaeological sites such as Chichén Itzá and Teotihuacán.
Jordanian flag
The Jordanian flag was officially adopted on April 16, 1928, and is based on the flag of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Its design features a black, white, and green horizontal tricolor connected by a red chevron on the hoist side, with a seven-pointed white star symbolizing the first seven verses of the Quran.
