Royal Court 2026: Second day of the qualifiers was surrounded by lots of animation and exciting moments

The Royal Court Contest 2026 goes full throttle! On Friday (10), the second day of qualifiers placed the second groups of candidates for King and Queen to compete. With eight candidates for King and 23 Queen, the event promoted a fierce dispute, with the right to many stories, experiences and, of course, samba in the foot. Of the postulants of the day, the candidates were classified Alexandre Fernandes (11), John Pedro Drummond (10), Jonata dos Santos (12), Marcius Paul (16) and Rey Jerome (13). On the side of the candidates, the chosen ones were On the candidate side, those chosen were Ana Carolina Antunes (28), Aninha Paula (33), Caroline Xavier (29), Daniele Alves (38), Dany Oliveira (31), Gabriela Carvalho (42), Ingrid Ferreira (34), Malu Mercês (44), Rwanda Monteiro (23) and Veronica Jacominn (24). All will compete in the semifinal, which happens on Friday (17/10).

With the presence of Milton Cunha, artistic director of the Court, and the presentation of Wilson Neto, King Momo of 2022, and Bianca Monteiro, drums queen of Portela, the present audience witnessed a beautiful party, where the candidates played great moments of the dispute.

In addition to the contest, the event was dominated by special presentations: the traditional Samba da Alvorada and Samba da Volta, carioca audience sweethearts and absolute successes on the weekends of Rio, warmed the moods along with the Rio Samba Show. To add further, the giants Portela and Youth have all led to delirium with their collections of historical sambas that are eternal in popular culture.

Like other dates of this edition, the first night honored a great name in the history of the carnaval: Marcia Lage carnival. Student of the School of Fine Arts (EBA), Lage had historical passages by schools such as Youth, Willow and Serrano Empire. Alongside her husband, Renato Lage, the carioca participated in legendary parades, such as the three-championate of Father Miguel's school in the 1990s (90s, 91s and 96), and died in January 2025, while signing the parade of the same club.

The second night also featured the broadcast of the event integrated into the channel of Riotur on YouTube, with 3,132 views!

Check out the calendar of the Royal Cut Contest Carnaval:

Day 16/10 – Semifinal LGBT+ (Muse, Muse and Non-Binary Person)

Day 17/10 – Semifinal (King and Queen)

Day 23/10 – Final LGBT+ (Museum, Muse and Non-Binary Person)

Day 24/10 – Final (King and Queen)

Check out the tribute schedule for the next few nights:

Day 16/10 (Maria Augusta) – Sapagode, Grande Rio, Rio Samba Show and Karoline Absyntho

Day 17/10 (Rosa Magalhães) – Prose Lady, Willow, Terreiro de Creoulo and Rio Samba Show

Day 23/10 (Black Gil) – Samba They Want, Empress, Maime of the Brightness, Karina Karão and Sambay

Day 24/10 (Arlindo Cruz, Bira Presidente, Gilsinho da Portela and previous honored) – Quintal da Magia, Beija-Flor and Arlindinho

Service:

Carnaval Royal Cut Competition 2026

Dates: 16, 17, 23 and 24/10

Timetable: 19 h

Location: R. Rivadavia Corrêa, 60 – Holy Christ (Cidade do Samba)

Best way to get there: VLT – Line 1 (Santos Dumont x Terminal Gentleza). Just land at station Cidade do Samba/Tia Ciata

Free entry

Learn more: Corte Real 2026: premiere of the qualifiers brings together history, show and much samba