A packed Bela Vista mall crowned Neto Rodrigues as Rei Momo for Salvador Carnival 2026, handing him the city keys and a R$ 10,000 prize.
The announcement came on Friday night (02/06), during the contest final held in the food court, where fans, candidates, and revelers filled the space to witness the moment the Rei Momo title was decided.
As part of the Laje do Bela program, the event effectively signaled the official start of Carnival season in Salvador, with the crowd’s energy carrying the show from the first entrance to the last award.
Salvador Carnival 2026: the Rei Momo decision
Organized by the Federation of Carnival and Cultural Entities of Bahia (FCCBA), in partnership with the City of Salvador and the Government of the State of Bahia, the competition named Neto Rodrigues the winner, symbolically granting him the city’s keys along with R$ 10,000 in cash.
He also received a complete, exclusive outfit provided by Shopping Bela Vista and signed by the fashion brand Meninos Rei.
An exclusive look by Meninos Rei
The outfit was created by designers Júnior Rocha and Céu Rocha, founders of Meninos Rei, who attended the final and served on the judging panel, highlighting the link between авторial design, ancestry, and Bahian identity.
Finalists, criteria, and the night’s soundtrack
Eight finalists were evaluated on charisma, crowd engagement, stage presence, and alignment with the spirit of Carnival.
Devisson Santos placed second, and Paulo Mendes finished third.
Marcos Amotino (Maicom), César Mota, Vinícius Oliveira, Crispin (Lampião do Pânico), and Valter das Virgens also competed in a final that kept the audience locked in until the last announcement.
Music came from Banda Tio Elétrico, which delivered a Carnival-heavy set and kept the crowd singing throughout the evening.
Judges and organizers
The judging panel included Jairo da Mata (FCCBA president), Pedro Costa (president of the Bahia Tourism Council and Carnival coordinator), Washington Paganelli (COMCAR president), Nilton Raimundo Ávila Filho (president of Salvador’s Street Vendors and Market Traders Union, member of the Carnival Council and the Bahia Retailers Association), Diana Soares (Piatã FM representative), Juliana Brandão (Marketing Manager at Shopping Bela Vista), plus Céu Rocha and Júnior Rocha (Meninos Rei founders) to bring multiple perspectives to the decision.
“O Rei Momo simboliza alegria, inclusão e identidade cultural. Esse concurso mantém viva uma das figuras mais representativas do nosso Carnaval e convida cada vez mais pessoas a fazerem parte dessa história”, destacou Jairo da Mata, presidente da Federação das Entidades Carnavalescas e Culturais da Bahia (FCCBA).
“O Bela Vista acredita no Carnaval como expressão cultural e identidade do povo baiano. Patrocinar o traje do Rei Momo, assinado por uma marca autoral tão representativa como a Meninos Rei, é valorizar a tradição e apoiar talentos que traduzem a essência da Bahia”, afirmou Juliana Brandão, gerente de Marketing do Shopping Bela Vista.
A tradition since 1990
Run by the FCCBA since 1990, the Rei Momo contest has honored well-known figures such as Clarindo Silva, Gerônimo Santana, and Pepeu Gomes, keeping alive a ritual that helps mark the countdown to Brazil’s biggest street party.
With Neto Rodrigues now crowned, the tradition moves forward with a new face at its center—one meant to embody joy, inclusion, and cultural pride in Salvador.
Service info
Event: Rei Momo contest final for Salvador Carnival 2026
Date: 02/06/2026 (Friday)
Location: Food court, Shopping Bela Vista
Produced by: FCCBA, in partnership with the City of Salvador and the Government of the State of Bahia
Photo: Press Office handout
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