Carnival in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro - captured in photos and film by photographer Autumn Sonnichsen for Vogue Brazil

Autumn Sonnichsen had the enviable task of photographing and filming the Carnival parades in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro for Vogue Brazil.

The American photographer, who divides her time between Brazil and Germany, attended the winning parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on Saturday, February 21, 2026. “The best photos - most of them - are from the moment I was in the area where the festivities were breaking up; I cried a lot,” recalls Autumn Sonnichsen. “I have great respect for the samba schools, for their structure, and for the joy they bring to their communities.”

Brazilian Carnival is the country’s largest national festival. The samba schools compete in massive parades, showcasing magnificent floats with thousands of people in often sparsely and exquisitely, handcrafted costumes, not to forget the feverish percussion show (bateria).

Photographer Autumn Sonnichsen is represented by the Berlin agency EMEIS DEUBEL.

About Emeis Deubel

Emeis Deubel represents artists with a fresh visual approach to photography, direction and creative conception in advertising and art. In march 2009, Konrad Florian Emeis und Jan Deubel joined their talents and formed Emeis Deubel out of the agency KFE. Both have a strong background in production and creative consulting, having worked for leading German advertising agencies. They successfully combine their artists' creative excellence with a professional «hands-on» organization.

Carnival in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro - captured in photos and film by photographer Autumn Sonnichsen for Vogue Brazil

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