Rio Carnival 2026: Emirates brings Brazilian flavours and festive entertainment to the skies
Portuguese films and Latin music featured on ice inflight entertainment platform
DUBAI – Rio Carnival 2026 celebrations are taking to the skies as Emirates introduces a special Brazilian-themed dining and entertainment experience on selected flights between Dubai and Brazil.
The Dubai-based airline is rolling out curated menus, regional desserts and Portuguese-language entertainment to mark one of the biggest cultural festivals in the world. The limited-time offering will run from 13 to 21 February on routes linked to Brazil.
The Carnival-themed service will be available for customers travelling between Dubai and São Paulo, Dubai and Rio de Janeiro, as well as passengers flying onward from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires. The programme spans all cabin classes, with tailored dishes and desserts designed around traditional Brazilian flavours.
Brazil routes
Passengers across First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class will receive Carnival-inspired meals built around classic ingredients and festive recipes. Emirates said the menu has been designed to reflect the spirit and culinary identity of Brazil during the Carnival period.
In First Class and Business Class, customers will be served braised beef short ribs with garlic sauce, coriander pesto rice, roasted courgettes, peppers and plantain chips. The dish is positioned as a hearty centrepiece aligned with celebratory Carnival dining.
Premium Economy passengers will receive braised veal cheek with similar accompaniments, while Economy Class travellers will be offered Picadinho de Carnival, a Brazilian-style beef dish paired with coriander rice, roasted plantain and grilled pepper.
Festive desserts
Desserts on Brazil-bound flights highlight well-known Brazilian sweets and tropical flavours. A brigadeiro cheesecake topped with ganache will be served, accompanied by coconut vanilla anglaise along with guava and passion fruit coulis.
On Emirates’ A380 aircraft operating to São Paulo, premium cabin customers visiting the Onboard Lounge will also be offered banana bundt cake and an assortment of additional sweet items during the Carnival period, expanding the celebratory menu beyond the main meal service.
Return flights from Brazil to Dubai will feature a different set of regional dishes. In First and Business Class, menus include grilled filet mignon with biquinho pepper sauce, sautéed kale, roasted pumpkin, palm heart and Brazilian-style rice with beans and vegetables.
Premium Economy customers will be served braised beef short ribs with biquinho pepper sauce and local sides. Economy Class passengers will receive braised beef in onion sauce with steamed rice, sautéed kale, farofa, pickled biquinho peppers and stewed black beans.
Appetisers on Dubai-bound services include smoked white fish with coriander sauce and mango relish in premium cabins, while Premium Economy and Economy customers will be offered a cauliflower salad starter.
Desserts on the return leg include fruit tartlets with brigadeiro and mango coulis in First and Business Class. Premium Economy and Economy passengers will receive manjar branco, a traditional Brazilian coconut cream dessert. On A380 flights departing São Paulo, the Onboard Lounge will additionally serve orange cake with white chocolate sauce and fresh fruit skewers.
Onboard entertainment
Alongside the special menus, Emirates is expanding Brazilian-themed viewing and listening options on its ice inflight entertainment platform during the Carnival window.
Passengers will have access to up to 16 Brazilian films, including titles such as Estômago II: O Poderoso Chef, Saudosa Maloca and De Repente, Miss!. The system will also feature more than 240 Hollywood films dubbed in Portuguese.
Music selections include 48 playlists and albums focused on Latin American and Brazilian artists, with names such as Sergio Mendes and Gilberto Gil included alongside contemporary performers. The Carnival-focused catalogue is available across supported aircraft operating the Brazil routes during the promotional period.