Anitta to lead one of Rio's grand Carnival parades in 2027

Anitta is returning to one of Rio de Janeiro's most iconic Carnival stages. The Brazilian singer has been announced as the new drum queen of Grande Rio and will lead the samba school's parade at the 2027 Carnival.

The role places her between the school's hundreds of percussionists and the crowd. Wearing feathers, sequins and high heels, she will guide the bateria for more than an hour along the Sambadrome's 700-meter track, following the samba chosen for Grande Rio's theme.

“I accept this invitation with great respect. I know the importance of Carnival in the lives of thousands of people and in the history of a determined people who, for decades, have turned the parades into a political and revolutionary act,” Anitta said in a message posted on social media.

Grande Rio's presentation will tell the story of the Tabon, a community formed in what is now Ghana by enslaved Africans who won their freedom in Brazil and later returned voluntarily to West Africa. Some had taken part in rebellions against slavery, including the Malê Revolt. The theme reflects the focus on spirituality, ancestry and self-knowledge in Anitta's recent album, “Equilibrivm II.”

Anitta will replace influencer Virginia Fonseca, who left the position a week earlier for personal reasons after serving as drum queen during the 2026 Carnival. Anitta will be officially crowned at Grande Rio's headquarters on September 20. She previously paraded as a muse for Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel in 2016 and took part in Portela's parade two years earlier.

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I accept this invitation with great respect. I know the importance of Carnival in the lives of thousands of people and in the history of a determined people who, for decades, have turned the parades into a political and revolutionary act.