On Wednesday, the Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba do Rio (Liesa) conducted a draw to determine the reading order of the results for the 2026 Carnival's Special Group. This event will culminate in the announcement of the champion samba schools. Notably, the samba theme has been established as the tiebreaker criterion, indicating its importance in the overall assessment of the performances. This draws from previous practices where certain aspects of the schools' performances could lead to ties in their scores.

The apuração, or results announcement, will take place live from the Cidade do Samba in the Port Zone of Rio de Janeiro, with TV Globo, g1, and Globoplay broadcasting the event from 15:50 local time. The draw has laid out the specific order in which the various criteria will be read, starting with the 'Comissão de Frente,' or Front Commission, and concluding with the samba-enredo itself. This established order not only adds excitement but also sets the stage for spectators and participants alike to engage with the unfolding results.

This significant change underscores the cultural weight of the samba-enredo in the Carnival festivities, where music and thematic storytelling play crucial roles. As schools prepare for the upcoming competition, the emphasis on the samba theme as a determinant in case of tied scores stresses the artistic and creative merits of the performances over technical standings. The implications for schools will involve refining their samba themes to ensure they stand out in this crucial aspect of the competition.