São Paulo’s transport authorities have activated round-the-clock operations on Metrô Lines 1-Azul, 2-Verde and 3-Vermelha, as well as on the CPTM commuter-rail trunk that serves Palmeiras–Barra Funda, from the evening of Saturday, 21 February through Sunday morning. The 24-hour service coincides with the Desfile das Campeãs—the sold-out grand finale of Carnaval 2026—expected to bring more than 1.5 million revellers, tourists and corporate guests to Brazil’s business capital.
Under the special plan, trains will continue to accept boarding at all stations on the three core metro lines after the usual midnight cut-off, while Lines 4-Amarela and 5-Lilás will switch to “disembark-only” mode and feeder buses will run from Portuguesa-Tietê and Palmeiras-Barra Funda directly to the Anhembi Sambadrome. Airport transfer companies and hotel concierges have advised business travellers landing at Guarulhos late on Saturday to factor in road closures near the parade route and Allianz Parque, where Bad Bunny performs the second of two concerts.
If you’re among the thousands of international visitors still sorting out travel documents, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) walks tourists, business delegates and production crews through Brazil’s e-Visa and consular requirements, provides real-time status updates, and offers courier services—handy peace of mind when Carnaval schedules leave little room for bureaucratic delays.
![São Paulo keeps metro and commuter-rail open all night for Carnaval champions’ parade, issues travel guidance for 1.5 million visitors]()
For mobility managers, the 24-hour rail window removes a perennial Carnaval pain-point: the surge-pricing and unpredictable availability of ride-hailing vehicles in the early-morning hours. Companies with expatriate assignees or conference delegates in town this weekend have been urged to pre-issue topped-up Bilhete Único smartcards and share CET’s list of restricted streets so that airport shuttles avoid the heaviest congestion corridors around Água Branca and Santana.
Safety protocols remain heightened. State police have deployed additional patrols inside stations after last year’s spike in pick-pocketing incidents during the champions’ parade. The municipal health department has also stationed triage tents at Anhembi and Barra Funda to manage heat-related illnesses and to distribute free bottles of water—a first after 2025’s record-breaking temperatures.
From a wider mobility perspective, São Paulo’s decision to guarantee uninterrupted rail service through the night is being watched by other Brazilian cities that host mega-events. Rio’s MetroRio has already hinted that it may copy the 24-hour model for the Rock in Rio festival in September, while Salvador is studying extended hours on its suburban rail during next year’s Carnaval. If the trial proves cost-effective—authorities say operating costs rise only 8 % thanks to automated signalling—24-hour running could become a fixture on Brazil’s event calendar, smoothing the flow of both leisure visitors and high-value corporate travellers.
Under the special plan, trains will continue to accept boarding at all stations on the three core metro lines after the usual midnight cut-off, while Lines 4-Amarela and 5-Lilás will switch to “disembark-only” mode and feeder buses will run from Portuguesa-Tietê and Palmeiras-Barra Funda directly to the Anhembi Sambadrome. Airport transfer companies and hotel concierges have advised business travellers landing at Guarulhos late on Saturday to factor in road closures near the parade route and Allianz Parque, where Bad Bunny performs the second of two concerts.
If you’re among the thousands of international visitors still sorting out travel documents, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) walks tourists, business delegates and production crews through Brazil’s e-Visa and consular requirements, provides real-time status updates, and offers courier services—handy peace of mind when Carnaval schedules leave little room for bureaucratic delays.
For mobility managers, the 24-hour rail window removes a perennial Carnaval pain-point: the surge-pricing and unpredictable availability of ride-hailing vehicles in the early-morning hours. Companies with expatriate assignees or conference delegates in town this weekend have been urged to pre-issue topped-up Bilhete Único smartcards and share CET’s list of restricted streets so that airport shuttles avoid the heaviest congestion corridors around Água Branca and Santana.
Safety protocols remain heightened. State police have deployed additional patrols inside stations after last year’s spike in pick-pocketing incidents during the champions’ parade. The municipal health department has also stationed triage tents at Anhembi and Barra Funda to manage heat-related illnesses and to distribute free bottles of water—a first after 2025’s record-breaking temperatures.
From a wider mobility perspective, São Paulo’s decision to guarantee uninterrupted rail service through the night is being watched by other Brazilian cities that host mega-events. Rio’s MetroRio has already hinted that it may copy the 24-hour model for the Rock in Rio festival in September, while Salvador is studying extended hours on its suburban rail during next year’s Carnaval. If the trial proves cost-effective—authorities say operating costs rise only 8 % thanks to automated signalling—24-hour running could become a fixture on Brazil’s event calendar, smoothing the flow of both leisure visitors and high-value corporate travellers.
