The samba school parades for Carnival in Santos, São Paulo, kicked off on the evening of March 6 in Dráuzio da Cruz promenade, attracting around 10,000 attendees with sold-out tickets for both nights. During the first night, seven schools participated, comprised of three from the Access Group and four from the Special Group, showcasing a variety of cultural themes, including local Santista culture and African heritage.

The Access Group schools participated first, starting at 9 PM, with each school having between 30 and 45 minutes to perform, while the Special Group schools had slightly longer time slots of 40 to 55 minutes. The format of the competition means that the two lowest-ranked schools from the Special Group will be demoted to the Access Group, and the top two from Access will be promoted. Scoring will occur at noon on March 10 in the Municipal Theater Braz Cubas, heightening the competitive atmosphere surrounding the parades.

Attendance and spirit were high, highlighting the significance of these events in Brazilian culture and the local community's pride. The unique blend of celebrity appearances and cultural expression underscores how Carnival functions as a vital platform for artistic and social commentary, celebrating the deep roots of Afro-Brazilian culture that influence the thematic presentations within the floats and performances.