Thousands of performers paraded through the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on Monday night.
Under a display of fireworks, the Imperio da Tijuca samba school opened the second night of the carnival.
Members of six samba schools danced, sang and performed through the Sambadrome to participate in the competition that ends at dawn on Tuesday.
Each school parades for 80 minutes and is judged in 10 categories, from the quality of the drum sections to the beauty of the costumes.
Carnival officially ends on Ash Wednesday for the beginning of the sombre Christian season of Lent, leading up to Easter.
More No Comment
Record-breaking gathering of "vampires" in England
Champions League: Paris prepares for Liverpool-Real Madrid final
Mourners pay respect to Texas shooting victims at Uvalde memorial
Star Wars fans gather for convention in California
Princess of the Wall of Death'
ABBA return to the stage as digital versions of themselves
Spectacular rooftop walk bridge over Rotterdam is opened to visitors
Fire in Greece burns humanitarian aid destined for Ukraine
Chile welcomes a Banksy tribute exhibition in Latin AmerIca
First civil wedding in devastated Ukraine city despite ongoing war
After 2 years of COVID, Peru's clowns return
Prayers, tears at vigil for Texas shooting victims
Ukrainian filmmakers protest censorship of images of Ukraine war
Climate protesters block Total’s annual general assembly in Paris
Giant mural of armed saint painted on Kyiv building