Overview

• Brazil's first lady visited the school's Niterói barracão and said she will be at the parade on February 15, 2026, at Marquês de Sapucaí.
• Acadêmicos de Niterói is set to open the Grupo Especial on Sunday with an enredo honoring President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
• The 2026 plot, titled “Do Alto do Mulungu surge a esperança: Lula, o operário do Brasil,” is by carnavalesco Tiago Martins and enredista Igor Ricardo.
• Janja toured costume and float production areas and met with school leaders Wallace Palhares and Amanda Palhares.
• The visit included ministers Anielle Franco and Luciana Santos, Liesa director Elmo José dos Santos, Cidade do Samba mayor Marcos Vinicius, and carnavalesco Milton Cunha, as the promoted school builds on its 2025 Série Ouro title.