The Unidos do Jacarezinho, a samba school from the Rio de Janeiro carnival, finished last in the Série Ouro competition, resulting in its relegation to the Série Prata for the 2027 season. They presented an enredo titled "O ar que se respira inspira novos tempos", honoring renowned Brazilian musician Xande de Pilares, but their performance was marred by significant issues, including entire wings with no costumes and simplistic allegorical representations.

The school's performance problems were compounded by the unfortunate impact of two recent fires, which officials claimed severely disrupted their preparations for the carnival. The directors emphasized that these incidents, occurring earlier in the month, led to a less than satisfactory presentation that ultimately affected their placement in the competition. In addition to costume issues, the school also exceeded the allotted performance time, finishing their parade 2 minutes over the limit, which may have further harmed their score among judges.

Inocentes de Belford Roxo, the other school that struggled in the competition, placed second to last, presenting an enredo focused on Brazilian cordel literature and xilogravura. The overall challenges faced by these samba schools highlight the intense pressures and expectations within the carnival circuit and underline the importance of preparation and resource allocation for success in this high-profile cultural event.