Carnaval 2026: draw sets groups that will contest the Royal Court contest

With the participation of Milton Cunha, artistic director of the Court, the event was held in sector 11 of the Sambódromo

The Riotur held, on the night of Thursday (02), the Sambódromo, the draw to define the order of the presentations of candidates and candidates to the Royal Court of the Carnaval 2026. The process will elect King Momo, the Queen and the two princesses. There will also be the choice of the Royal Court LGBT+, which will crown a Muse, a Muse and a Non-Binary Person.

Comprising the opening table, the president of Riotur Bernardo Fellows, Vice President Luis Monsores, Director of Operations Flávio Teixeira and Artistic Director of the event Milton Cunha were present. The draw was conducted by Wilson Neto, King Momo 2022, and Bianca Monteiro, drums queen of Portela, beginning the competition for the coronation of the Carnaval 2026.

In all, 102 candidates participate in this year's selection, being:

45 competitors to the title of Queen of Carnaval

16 candidates for King Momo

12 candidates for Musa

19 candidates for Muso

10 people competing in the category Non-Binary Person

Check out the schedule of the next phases of the Royal Cut Contest Carnaval 2026:

The qualifiers for the definition of the King and Queen of the Carnaval take place on October 9th and 10th. Among the Kings, a total of 10 candidates qualify for the semifinal. Among the Queens, there will be a total of 20 classified.

The semifinals will take place on 16 and 17/10. On the 16th, the 19 candidates to Muso, 12 to Musa and 10 to Non-Binnary Person present, and of them, 5 Muses, 5 Muses and 5 Persons Non-Binaries qualify for the final.

On the 17th, 10 candidates for King and 20 the Queen perform, with 5 Kings and 10 Queens coming to the final.

The finals are scheduled for 23 and 24/10, with the LGBT+ Court being decided on the first date. All stages and finals will be performed at Cidade do Samba. At all stages, the audience will be able to enjoy musical performances, which will soon be announced, and be thrilled with the various tributes.

With the theme “Celebrating the Ancestrality”, every night of the contest will be a tribute to emblematic figures of the Carnaval carioca: Lygia Santos, Bira President, Márcia Lage, Preta Gil, Maria Augusta, Rosa Magalhães, Arlindo Cruz, Gilsinho da Portela, among other unforgettable personalities.

Official timetable – Carnaval Royal Cut Competition 2026:

Day 09/10 – 1st night of qualifiers – Royal Court
Recipient: Lygia Santos

Day 10/10 – 2nd night of qualifiers – Royal Court
Recipient: Marcia Lage

Day 16/10 – Semifinal – Royal Cut LGBT+
Recipient: Maria Augusta

Day 17/10 – Semifinal – Royal Court
Recipient: Rosa Magellan

Day 23/10 – Final – Royal Cut LGBT+
Recipient: Black Gil

Day 24/10 – Final – Royal Court
Honorees: Arlindo Cruz, Bira Presidente, Gilsinho da Portela and all others honored.