São Paulo and Rio Finalize Juror Rules and Scoring Frameworks for Carnival 2026

Overview

• Liga-SP's 2026 edital sets a multi-stage selection that includes curriculum screening, a nine-question conflict-of-interest questionnaire, social background checks, and up to 36 hours of online and in-person training with performance evaluations.
• Eligibility bars cover members of the selection commission and close relatives, people with current or past ties or declared friendships or enmities with Liga‑SP schools, while applicants must be 18 or older, reside in São Paulo state, and prove technical knowledge in a chosen quesito.
• São Paulo will use 45 judges across nine quesitos with four officials plus one alternate per category, juror names released on the eve of each parade, and obligations that include confidentiality of notes and detailed written justifications.
• In Rio, Liesa maintains nine quesitos judged by 36 jurors distributed in cabins, with scores from 9.0 to 10.0, the lowest grade discarded, and tie-breaks determined by the order of quesitos drawn before the results.
• Operational rules in Rio specify parade time windows, dispersal requirements, and fines for infractions such as delays, improper float counts, and other violations that can affect standings.