Rio de Janeiro – Acadêmicos de Niterói, a samba school that sparked both celebration and controversy with its Carnival parade honoring President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has been relegated to the Série Ouro group after finishing last in the Grupo Especial competition on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The school received a total of 264.6 points, with only two of the judges awarding a perfect score in the samba-enredo category, a critical component of the evaluation.
The demotion marks a disappointing end to Acadêmicos de Niterói’s debut in the top tier of Rio’s Carnival, a spectacle watched by millions both in person and around the world. Following the results announcement, the school posted a defiant message on social media: “Art is not for cowards. Community, you were giants. What is the value of entering history?”
This year’s parade, titled “Do alto do mulungu surge a esperança: Lula, o operário do Brasil” (From the heights of the mulungu tree rises hope: Lula, the worker of Brazil), traced the life story of the president, from his childhood in the northeastern region of the country to his rise through the labor movement and to the presidency. President Lula himself attended the parade on Sunday, February 15th, viewing it from the city hall’s box, according to reports.
The school’s choice of theme, however, proved deeply divisive, attracting both fervent support and sharp criticism. The parade unfolded against a backdrop of legal challenges from opposition groups alleging that it constituted premature election campaigning, all of which were ultimately rejected by the Justice Federal and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), according to Gazeta do Povo. The Novo party has indicated it will seek to disqualify President Lula based on the parade.
Adding to the controversy, the parade featured pointed depictions of political opponents, including former President Jair Bolsonaro, portrayed as a “clown and prisoner” during the performance, as reported by Gazeta do Povo. The school also presented a float titled “Conservadores em Conserva” (Conservatives in a Can), which satirized religious conservatives and the agricultural sector, prompting a backlash from right-wing groups who launched the “Família em Conserva” (Family in a Can) trend on social media, sharing images of families posed in tin cans.
Political Fallout and Allegations of Interference
Beyond the on-parade imagery, Acadêmicos de Niterói claimed to have faced “persecution” and attempts at political interference leading up to the competition. In a statement released the day after the parade, the school alleged “attacks from conservative sectors and, more seriously, from Carnival managers,” including requests to alter the enredo and questioning of the samba lyrics.
The school also received a significant financial boost prior to the parade, benefiting from a 1 million Real (approximately $200,000 USD as of February 18, 2026) grant as part of a 12 million Real agreement between the Ministry of Culture, Embratur, and the Independent Samba Schools League of Rio de Janeiro (Liesa), with each of the Grupo Especial schools receiving 1 million Real.
First Lady’s Withdrawal and Legal Challenges
The controversy extended to First Lady Rosângela Silva, known as Janja, who initially planned to participate as a featured performer in one of the floats. However, she withdrew from the performance in response to numerous legal challenges filed against the parade, according to reports.
Senators from the opposition have filed a criminal complaint with the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), alleging that the parade’s depiction of evangelical Christians constituted a form of prejudice comparable to racism. The complaint accuses the school of discriminatory behavior.
Reactions and Defensiveness from the Ruling Party
The reaction to the parade and the subsequent demotion has been sharply divided. President Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) dismissed the criticism as “ridiculous” and a distraction from more important issues, with party president Edinho Silva stating, as reported by Gazeta do Povo, that “trying to tarnish the president politically over the choices of allegories by Acadêmicos de Niterói is ridiculous. The Brazilian people deserve a more qualified political debate.”
The incident underscores the deeply polarized political climate in Brazil, where even cultural events like Carnival have grow entangled in partisan battles. The Acadêmicos de Niterói’s bold tribute to President Lula, while ultimately unsuccessful in securing a top spot in the competition, has undoubtedly ignited a national conversation about art, politics, and the limits of free expression.
The next step in this unfolding story will be the formal announcement of the Série Ouro schedule and the school’s preparations for the 2027 Carnival season. Acadêmicos de Niterói will demand to regroup and strategize for a return to the Grupo Especial, a challenge that will require both artistic innovation and careful navigation of the political landscape.
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