The Rio de Janeiro Independent Samba Schools League (Liesa) will kick off a new round of ticket sales for the 2026 Rio Carnival on July 9th. In this phase, the purchase of tickets for special grandstand areas will first be open to customers of the digital bank Mercado Pago. Mercado Pago is the banking arm of the Latin American e-commerce giant Mercado Livre and is the official financial partner for this year's Rio Carnival.

The prices for special grandstand tickets range from 200 reais (half-price at 100 reais) to 230 reais (half-price at 115 reais). Customers of Mercado Pago can log into the official platform to access the ticket purchasing page and select the desired area for ticket purchase. Users who are not yet registered can sign up for free to become clients of this bank to gain priority in ticket purchases.

Ticket sales will be open to the general public on Sunday, July 13th, at 10 a.m. Each individual registered on the platform with a CPF (individual taxpayer number) can purchase up to 4 tickets, with only 1 half-price ticket included. All ticket types will be sold online exclusively.

Gabriel David, President of Liesa, stated, "Liesa and Mercado Pago share a high degree of alignment in cultural values. As the officially designated bank for the Rio Carnival, the platform's technological capabilities will empower the world's grandest carnival celebration. This partnership goes beyond the financial aspect and strategically enhances the overall experience of carnival participants."

Pethra Ferraz, Vice President of Marketing at Mercado Pago, noted, "Two years ago, the Carnival was already on our radar as one of the important holidays we engage with the Brazilian public. We have not only invested in participants, but now, with our brand philosophy of 'benefitting everyone,' this collaboration holds even more significance - the Carnival brings positive impacts to the country's economic development."