Acadêmicos do Grande Rio is frequently hailed as one of the most glamorous and celebrity-studded samba school in Rio de Janeiro, hailing from the city of Duque de Caxias.

 

Established in 1988, it is relatively young compared to the traditional giants, but it quickly rose to prominence through its high-budget productions and its ability to attract Brazil’s biggest stars to its ranks.

 

Represented by the colors red, green, and white, the school was long known as the "eternal runner-up" until it finally secured its historic first championship in 2022 with a legendary parade honoring Exu, the Orisha of the crossroads.

 

This victory solidified Grande Rio’s shift from a school focused primarily on spectacle and "showbiz" to one deeply invested in sophisticated, culturally significant narratives that challenge social prejudices and celebrate the complexities of Afro-Brazilian faith.