Band Folia Trophy 2026: meet all the winners

Ivete Sangalo, Léo Santana, and Daniela Mercury took top honors in Salvador. Rio and São Paulo samba schools also celebrated.

The winners of the Band Folia Trophy 2026 — one of Brazilian Carnival’s most prestigious awards — were announced over the final two days of the festivities. Votes were cast by the public through Band.com.br/carnaval, covering three stages: the Salvador Carnival, Rio de Janeiro’s Série Ouro (Gold Series), and São Paulo’s Grupo de Acesso 1 (Access Group 1).

In Salvador, nominees were selected by a technical jury featuring composer and producer Alfredo Moura, radio host Anselmo Costa, conductor Fred Dantas, artistic director Gil Alves, music researcher Luciano Matos, journalist Osmar Marrom, and cultural producer Piti Canella.

Salvador: Carnival’s Best of 2026

Léo Santana was named best male artist, while Ivete Sangalo claimed the title of best female artist. Both received their trophies atop a trio elétrico — the iconic moving stage truck synonymous with Salvador’s street Carnival.

The summer hit of the year was “Jetski,” a collaboration between Pedro Sampaio, Melody, and MC Meno K. The award for best choreography went to “Panamera” by Tony Salles.

The Carnival song of the year was “É Terreiro” by Daniela Mercury and Alcione, a powerful tribute to Afro-Brazilian roots. The Roots category was jointly awarded to Olodum and BaianaSystem. The special tribute of the edition honored Alinne Rosa.

Rio de Janeiro’s Gold Series

The 15 samba schools of Rio’s Série Ouro competed across nine categories: theme (enredo), opening act (comissão de frente), lead dance couple, lead singer, samba-enredo, drum corps (bateria), passistas dance troupe, warm-up performance, and best school overall.

Império Serrano won best theme with “Ponciá Evaristo, Flor do Mulungu.” Unidos de Padre Miguel earned both best opening act and the title of best school in the Gold Series.

The best lead dance couple honor went to União do Parque Acari‘s Renan Oliveira and Amanda Poblete. The best lead singer was Wantuir Oliveira of Unidos do Porto da Pedra. Estácio de Sá claimed the best samba-enredo award.

The best drum corps trophy went to Arranco do Engenho de Dentro, led by mestra Laísa Silva. União de Maricá had the best passistas troupe, and União da Ilha do Governador delivered the best warm-up show. The special tribute of the Rio segment honored Leci Brandão.

São Paulo’s Access Group 1

Among the eight schools competing in São Paulo’s Grupo de Acesso 1, Dom Bosco de Itaquera took home the best theme award for “Mariama – Mother of all races, of all colors. Mother of every corner of the Earth.”

Vila Maria won for best opening act. Mancha Verde shone in two categories: best lead dance couple (Thiago Bispo and Adriana Gomes) and best lead singer (Freddy Vianna). The best samba-enredo went to Independente Tricolor.

Nenê de Vila Matilde took two trophies — best drum corps (under mestre Matheus Machado) and best passistas troupe. Pérola Negra earned best warm-up show, while Acadêmicos do Tucuruvi was named best school.

The highlight of the year award went to carnival designer Nicolas Gonçalves of champion school Acadêmicos do Tucuruvi, recognized for repurposing materials in the creation of floats and costumes — a standout act of sustainability in Carnival production.

Photo: Adilton Venegeroles/Band