The British Paralympic Association aims to use the newly-created, Brazilian-themed carnivals to excite and engage the public with the Paralympics GB team and disability sport.

The Paralympics GB carnival will provide opportunities for the public to meet retired Paralympic athletes and medallists, as well as try out different sports, test themselves in challenges and enjoy some Brazilian-style entertainment.

The carnivals will look to build on the formula of the National Paralympic Day events held in 2013, 2014 and 2015, which included meet-and-greet opportunities with Paralympic athletes and come-and-try activities.

Each National Paralympic Day, held at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, attracted more than 15,000 people, and over 6,000 people have attended similar events hosted by the cities of Liverpool, Birmingham, Plymouth, Brighton and Nottingham.

The first carnival is due to take place at Stoke Mandeville, the historic birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, on September 2 - the day of the heritage flame lighting ceremony.

This will be followed by an event at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on September 3, when it will join up with the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival for the fourth year to create a day of celebration of disability sport and arts.

From there, there will also be carnivals in Cardiff on September 9, Nottingham on September 17 and Edinburgh on September 18.

A sixth host city is set to be announced at a later date. 

The carnivals will be funded by Spirit of 2012, a trust established by the Big Lottery Fund in an effort recreate the "spirit" that radiated from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

"It is incredibly exciting to announce that we will hold Paralympics GB carnival events," said Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of the BPA.

"We know the public will be keen to try out the sports featured in the Paralympic Games, meet Paralympians and find out more about local clubs as well as take the opportunity to have a bit of Brazil come to the UK too this summer.

"The carnivals build on our incredibly successful National Paralympic Days over the past three years.

"In the year of a Summer Games, we want to inspire people and give them a chance to have fun and learn more about the Paralympic Games and to get behind the Paralympics GB team and feel connected to what will be happening in Rio in September this year.

"We are confident this is an excellent way to achieve our ambition, and grateful to the Spirit of 2012 Trust for their continued belief in it and funding for the events."

Spirit of 2012 is committed to funding partners who help challenge perceptions of disability.

"Spirit of 2012 is proud to continue our involvement with the Paralympic Movement by supporting this year’s BPA-led carnival events," said Spirit of 2012 chief executive Debbie Lye.

"At Spirit, we aim to challenge perceptions of disability and help more people, both disabled and non-disabled, participate regularly in physical activity.

"The carnivals will give people across Britain the chance to try out new, inclusive sports and activities - an important first step in overcoming the barriers to getting involved in sport and activity."