Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous New Year’s Eve celebration on Copacabana has officially earned Guinness World Records recognition. Mayor Eduardo Paes received the plaque this week on the main stage being prepared for this year’s festivities, which will feature Brazilian music legend Gilberto Gil.

City officials said the title was awarded based on the record-breaking attendance, the scale of the artistic programming, the citywide reach of the event, and its cultural significance. Drone footage confirmed that 2.5 million people packed Copacabana for last year’s celebrations, making it one of the largest public events in the world.

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Paes called the recognition an honor, noting that few cities can consistently bring together crowds of that size year after year. Each New Year, millions of revelers—traditionally dressed in white—gather along the beach to welcome the year ahead.

For this year’s countdown, organizers are planning 12 minutes of fireworks paired with a high-tech display of 1,200 drones. Across the city, 13 stages will host free concerts, including three in Copacabana, supported by a security operation involving 3,500 police officers.

The milestone comes as Rio de Janeiro continues to surge as a global destination, welcoming nearly two million foreign visitors between January and November, another all-time record for the city.

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