Carnaval Oscar: Check out the Gold Standard Award winners 2026

On Wednesday night (4), Vivo Rio, in Flamengo Park, received the ceremony of the 54th edition of the Golden Banner, the most traditional award of the Carnaval carioca, created in 1972 by newspapers The Globe and Extra. Considered one of the most prestigious recognitions of the folia, the award highlights the main names and moments of the Special Group and Gold Series parades in the Marquis de Sapucaí.

In 2026, the big winner of the night was the United of the Viradouro, elected the best school in the Special Group by the specialized jury. The Niterói club took to the Avenue the plot “Upwards, Cíça”, in honor of Mestre Cíça, chosen as Personality of the Year. The school also won the prizes for best front commission, plot and master-room, with Julinho.

In all, 14 jurors accompanied the parades and indicated a finalist per night: Empress Leopoldinense (Sunday), United of the Viradouro (second) and United of Vila Isabel (third). The final choice was announced at the ceremony on Wednesday.

Check out all the winners below:

School: Vidour

Front Commission: Vidour

Master Room: Julinho, from the Viradouro

Flag carrier: Cintya Santos of the Hose

Battery: United Tijuca

Passist wing: Youth

Baianas: Tuiuti

Samba-enredo: Vila Isabel

Entangled: Vidour

Personality of the Year: Master Scissor from the Vidour

Best wing: Boast to boil, Empress Leopoldinense

Puller: Igor Smile, from the Willow

Fantasies: Empress Leopoldinense

Innovation: Square tamborim, from Vila Isabel

Revelation: Samba puller Jessica Martin from the Kiss-Flor of Nilópolis

Best school in the Golden Series: United of Father Miguel

Best Samba-Pants in the Gold Series: Union of the Park Acari

Fernando Pamplona: Third allegory of the Vicar General (“Malassambro sertanejo”)

Created to value sambists and individual highlights, regardless of the official result of the parades, the Golden Banner reaffirms, at each edition, its role as an artistic thermometer of the Carnaval. The award celebrates what was most striking in Sapucaí and gathers representatives of schools, artists and passionate about the biggest popular party in the country on one night.

The award featured the samba wheel show of Grupo S.E.R. (Samba Enredo de Root). The Golden Standard 2026 has sponsorship of Riotur, exclusive promotion of Radio Globo and realization of newspapers The Globe and Extra.