The champion of the 2026 Rio de Janeiro Carnival will be announced on Ash Wednesday, with significant changes to the judging process including the discarding of half of the scores.
On Ash Wednesday, February 18, Rio de Janeiro will reveal the champion of the 2026 Carnival, with live coverage from g1 and TV Globo following the classic "Rainha da Sucata" rerun. This year’s competition introduces substantial changes to the judging criteria which include increasing the number of judges, implementing mirrored booths, and introducing new subcriteria for evaluation. Notably, half of the judges' scores will be discarded as part of a new system aimed at enhancing the fairness and excitement of the competition.
The excitement builds early in the afternoon as the Independent League of Samba Schools (Liesa) conducts a draw that will impact the outcome of the competition. This includes a tie-breaking procedure where nine balls will be drawn to establish the order of the criteria presentation. If schools earn equal scores, the last envelopes opened will ultimately determine the champion. This method adds an element of suspense and unpredictability to the results announcement, engaging the audience and participants alike.
In total, 54 judges will provide scores for the Carnaval competition, but new regulations dictate that only 36 of these scores will be unveiled during the announcement. Consequently, during the draw, two judges will be randomly selected to be excluded in each judging category. This approach is part of the reform efforts aimed at maintaining a competitive spirit and providing a more thrilling experience for spectators and participants in one of Brazil's most iconic cultural events.
