Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Rio de Janeiro has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the host of the world's largest New Year's Eve celebration after authorities verified that about 2.5 million people gathered on Copacabana Beach to welcome in 2025.
The certification was presented days before the city's annual Reveillon, during a ceremony on the beachfront attended by Mayor Eduardo Paes and Guinness representative Camila Borenstein.
The record recognizes not only the number of attendees but also the scale, artistic production and cultural relevance of the event.
Guinness said the verification process included a comprehensive review of official data, aerial imagery and drone-based counts to confirm attendance. The organization also cited Rio's capacity to implement safety protocols, sustainability measures and large-scale logistics across a densely populated urban coastline.
"Few cities in the world can organize events for this many people, year after year," Paes said during the ceremony, according to city officials.
