In pictures: Rio de Janeiro's Carnival festival

Check out the pagaentry of the world’s largest Carnival festival.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE watched the sequin-clad performers atop the multicoloured floats of this year’s two-day Carnival festival in Rio de Janeiro.

Thirteen samba schools, which develop their own theme and costumes for the Carnival, paraded through the city’s Sambadrome before crowds of tens of thousands. The festival organisers said that the schools are social clubs which represent different parts of the city, particularly the favela slums.

Rio hosts the world’s largest Carnival festival, while there are around 300 smaller festival parties throughout the city’s neighbourhoods throughout January and Carnival. Brazil’s second-largest Carnival event was held in Salvador, where former McGyver star Richard Dean Anderson was the special guest.

Check out the action at Rio’s Sambadrome from today and yesterday:

In pictures: Rio de Janeiro's Carnival festival

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A dancer from the Imperatriz samba school sings in the Sambadrome yesterday during the first part of the two-day parade. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)
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One of the Beija Flor samba school performers during today's festivities at the Sambadrome. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo/PA Images)
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Performers from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school strut their stuff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo/PA Images)
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Performers spend a year in advance of each Carnival to prepare for the big event. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)
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Sabrina Sato, Queen of Vila Isabel samba school, parades at the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)
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A dancer performs atop a float during Vila Isabel samba school parade. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)
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A golden Vila Isabel samba school float makes its way around the Sambadrome. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana/PA Images)
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Revelers dance during Beija Flor samba school parade. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)
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Every year, around half a million overseas visitors flock to Rio for its Carnival. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)
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Colourful performers from the Unidos da Vila Isabel samba school. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)
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Millions watched the sequin-clad samba dancers at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Carnival parade. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana/PA Images)
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Vila Isabel samba school dancers are photographed during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana/PA Images)
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Dancers of Beija Flor samba school on a float at the Sambadrome. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana/PA Images)
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Dancers of Porto da Pedra samba school on parade. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana/PA Images)
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The morning after... A man sleeps in the litter-filled stands at the end of the first day of the Sambadrome parades. (AP Photo/Victor R Caivano/PA Images)

Some of the revellers paid homage to Brazil’s sporting heritage – and its hosting of the World Cup in 2014:

(Video via imenes)

A dancer and floats during today's Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. Felipe Dana/AP/PA Images

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Susan Ryan

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