The long-awaited counting of the samba school parades of Grupo Especial of the 2026 carnival of Rio of Janeiro is scheduled for this Wednesday, February 18th. The event, which promises to define the great champion of the Rio party, will start at 3:50 pm, with live coverage by important media outlets.
Millions of revelers and samba enthusiasts across the country and the world eagerly await the announcement of the results. Expectations are even greater due to the significant innovations introduced in this year’s regulation and evaluation methodology, which promise a more technical and transparent process.
The multiplatform transmission will allow the public to follow each note closely, from the reading of the questions to the consecration of the school that best represented the essence and spectacle of carnival in Marquês of Sapucaí. The excitement is guaranteed, with the crowd cheering at every point.
Changes to the parade evaluation model
The 2026 Rio carnival was the scene of a series of transformations in the judging and counting system for the Grupo Especial. The new guidelines, developed based on suggestions from the associations themselves, focused on improving technical precision and increasing clarity for the public.
Since the 2025 carnival, one of the big news has been the closing of the scores at the end of each night of parades, abandoning the old method that centralized the totals only after the last performance. Esta change sought to give greater dynamism to the process, with jurors consolidating their assessments more immediately.
This year’s regulations significantly expanded the evaluation criteria, resulting in the addition of a greater number of jurors and the modification of the dynamics of the presentations at Marquês from Sapucaí. Essas changes aim for more detailed scrutiny and a fairer interpretation of each school’s artistic and technical work.
Mirrored booths revolutionize presentation
The most notable innovation of this carnival was the implementation of mirrored booths, a system that revolutionized the way schools plan their performances. Dois sets of judges were strategically positioned facing each other on the avenue, in sectors 6 and 7, forcing the associations to design parades that worked in 360 degrees. Essa exigência alterou profundamente a coreografia e a interação em quesitos como mestre-sala e porta-bandeira, e comissão de frente, que tradicionalmente priorizavam apenas um lado da pista. Agora, the presentation needed to cover both sides of Sapucaí equally, demanding new creative strategies and greater integration with the public at all points.
Adapting to this new configuration required meticulous planning on the part of the samba schools. The design of costumes, allegories and the movement of components along the entire length of the avenue became crucial to guarantee a fair and complete evaluation. Liga Independente of Escolas of
Specificity in assessment questions
The evaluation model also underwent considerable deepening, seeking greater detail and fairness. The nine traditional questions now branch into 26 sub-questions, with a particular emphasis on aspects such as creativity and the general conception of each component of the parade, from the choice of the plot to the completion of the last wing.
The front committee, for example, had its evaluation expanded. Além of the clothing and choreographic presentation, its score began to consider the idea and creativity used, encouraging schools to innovate and present increasingly original and impactful proposals. The intention is to value not only the execution, but also the originality of the artistic proposal.
Mestre-sala and flag-bearer, central figures in the pavilion’s representation, were judged using strict criteria that include costume, synchronicity of choreography and harmony with the samba-enredo. The precision of the movements, the fluidity of the dance and the ability to emote became even more important elements for obtaining maximum marks, highlighting the complexity of the couple’s art.
The drums, known as the beating heart of the school, had a diverse evaluation to consider the maintenance of the cadence, the harmonious combination of the instruments, the creativity of the bossas and the rhythmic versatility. The technical demands have increased drastically, and now even scores of 10 need to be justified in detail by the judges, guaranteeing unprecedented rigor.
Order of parades and nighttime highlights
The Grupo Especial parades of the Rio carnival enchanted the Sapucaí for three consecutive nights, from Sunday to Tuesday, with each group seeking excellence in their presentations. On Sunday, February 15th, Acadêmicos of Niterói opened the proceedings, followed by Imperatriz Leopoldinense, which paid tribute to Ney Matogrosso in a memorable parade. The traditional Portela, always imposing, and the vibrant Estação Primeira of Mangueira, with its cultural and community strength, closed the first night, presenting the audience with rich plots and grandiose allegories. On Monday, February 16th, it was the turn of Mocidade Independente by Padre Miguel to enter the avenue, followed by the sumptuous Beija-Flor by Nilópolis, which always surprises. Unidos of Viradouro, seeking to maintain its high level of performance, and Unidos of Para ended the presentations on Tuesday, February 17th, Paraíso from Tuiuti started the party, succeeded by Unidos from Vila Isabel, which stood out for its social plot. The irreverent Acadêmicos of Grande Rio and the vigorous Acadêmicos of
Expansion of the panel of judges and strategies
The total number of judges was increased to 54 qualified professionals, although, in practice, the final score count is based on 36. Tal procedure seeks to guarantee maximum impartiality, mitigating any possibility of external influence or bias during the reading of the notes.
As explained by Liga Independente of Escolas of Essa plurality of perspectives and experiences significantly enriches the process, making it more representative and fair, and contributing to the reduction of controversies by promoting an even more technical and in-depth judgment of the show.
Complete coverage of the event
The Carnival 2026 count will be widely accessible to the public through a wide range of communication platforms. The official broadcast on TV Globo will allow millions of viewers to follow every detail and the intensity of the announcement of the results, which is always a moment of great emotion and expectation for carnival lovers.
For those who prefer to follow the event in a digital environment, Globoplay will offer complete coverage in real time, allowing the results to be seen from any location and at any time, adapting to the spectators’ routine. Além In addition, the g1 news portal will also provide live transmission, accompanied by real-time updates and analyzes of the main events as the notes are released.
Expectations after innovations at Sapucaí
With all the new rules and improvements implemented in the judging system, expectations for this Wednesday’s result are very high. Samba schools had to adapt and reinvent their strategies, presenting parades that were meticulously designed for all angles of the avenue and subjected to an even more detailed and rigorous judgment. The public eagerly awaits the crowning of the great carnival champion.