Rio Carnival, Glastonbury to return as key events in 2022

PARIS — From the Rio Carnival to Glastonbury, here are the top entertainment events that are likely to mark the coming year.

Rio Carnival returns... 

Rio de Janeiro is hoping its famed carnival will return from February 25 to March 1, after the pandemic scuppered last year's party.

Hard-hit Brazil has recently seen a drop in virus deaths, with more than 62 percent of its 213 million people now fully vaccinated.

Rio's samba schools are resuming rehearsals for their massive parades and more than 500 groups have registered to hold the epic street festivals known as "blocos".

More than two million tourists usually descend on the iconic beach city for the party, a quarter of them foreigners.

Mayor Eduardo Paes, a self-declared carnival lover, said he would impose no social distancing rules or face masks.

"With everyone vaccinated, who would keep their distance during carnival? It would be ridiculous to even ask," he said. "I'd be the first one to break the rules."

But authorities have said the event will depend on the Covid-19 outlook, with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro saying he is against resuming carnivals.

...As does Glastonbury 

The legendary British music festival returns for real in June for the first time since 2019 after its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2020 fell victim to the pandemic.

About 135,000 tickets were sold for 2021's five-day extravaganza before a surge in Covid infections in Britain meant it could only be live-streamed, with Coldplay headlining.

Billie Eilish, 19, will become the youngest performer to headline the fabled Pyramid Stage on June 24, while Diana Ross takes top billing at the "Legends" slot on June 26.