The samba school Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel opened the second night of Rio's Carnival parades on February 16, 2026, at Marquês de Sapucaí, with an enredo dedicated to singer Rita Lee, known as the Patroness of Freedom. The tribute highlighted the artist's life, irreverence, and activism, who passed away in 2023 at age 75, without using animal-origin materials. Figures like widower Roberto de Carvalho and actresses Lilia Cabral and Mel Lisboa joined the parade.
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel presented its parade honoring Rita Lee on the night of February 16, 2026, opening the second night of Rio de Janeiro's Special Group Carnival at Marquês de Sapucaí. The enredo 'Rita Lee – The Patroness of Freedom', developed by carnavalesco Renato Lage, follows the singer's life from its beginnings, emphasizing key moments in her career and her fight for freedom and irreverence. The samba-enredo, composed by Jeffinho Rodrigues and others, includes lines like 'Sou independente, fácil de amar / Livre de qualquer censura / Vem, baila comigo, só de te olhar… / Posso imaginar loucuras'.
Roberto de Carvalho, Rita Lee's widower, paraded on the last allegorical car alongside actress Lilia Cabral, who wore a white suit and shirt featuring the singer's face. 'It's the end of a long pregnancy, becoming more intense and wonderful,' Roberto said about the enredo, highlighting the essential condition of not using animal-origin artifacts, in respect to Rita's vegan activism. Lilia, set to debut in May in the show 'Rita Lee: Balada da Louca', remarked: 'It's an explosion inside the heart. It's very moving'.
On the first car, Mel Lisboa portrayed Rita Lee with a red wig, colored glasses, and a butterfly costume, representing the artist's mystical side with elements like mushrooms and butterflies. Fabíola de Andrade, battery queen since 2023, evoked Rita's feminism in her Afrodite-inspired fantasy, symbolizing sexual freedom. 'A queen must have a lot of charisma, humility, and love for the school,' she stated.
The parade also included a tribute to the dog Orelha, a victim of abuse in Florianópolis in January 2026 who was euthanized due to severe injuries. An allegorical car displayed caramel-colored dogs with plaques identifying the animal's name, aligning with Rita's animal rights advocacy. Roberto celebrated: 'It's a day that will remain written in the memory of all Brazilian revelers'. Interpreter Igor Vianna made his Sapucaí debut, succeeding Zé Paulo Sierra.
