Império Serrano was crowned champion of the samba schools during the 2026 Carnival in São Luís, with the results announced on the evening of Tuesday, February 24, at the Teatro da Cidade. This victory marks the first title for the school at this carnival event, held at the Passarela do Samba Chico Coimbra. The competition took place over two days, February 20 and 21, and featured ten participating samba schools, which were evaluated based on nine different criteria by three judges. The Império Serrano school, founded 68 years ago and based in the Monte Castelo neighborhood, showcased its parade with vibrant red costumes, emphasizing the theme of mangrove preservation, represented by the striking imagery of guarás. The evaluation criteria included elements such as theme development, performance by the leading dancers, artistic displays and props, rhythm, costumes, overall performance, songwriting, front commission, and harmony in presentation. The successful outcome not only highlights the school's artistic efforts but also underscores the cultural significance of samba and Carnival within Brazilian society, particularly in Maranhão. The win opens up new opportunities for the school and contributes to the cultural landscape as samba schools in Brazil continue to be pivotal in celebrating heritage and community spirit.