Brazil will choose its president on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in a runoff between Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). In the first round on October 4, Flávio Bolsonaro won 47.03% of valid votes and Lula 45.16%, according to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) count reported by CartaCapital. Since neither passed half of the valid votes, the election goes to a second round.
The two latest polls, by Datafolha and Quaest, show a statistical tie: 51% for Flávio Bolsonaro and 49% for Lula in valid votes. Below are the official results, the polls, the debate schedule and profiles of both candidates.
Brazil's first-round results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % of valid votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flávio Bolsonaro | PL | 56,104,503 | 47.03% |
| Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | PT | 53,879,538 | 45.16% |
| Augusto Cury | Avante | 3,448,569 | 2.89% |
| Renan Santos | Missão | Not available | 2.24% |
| Ronaldo Caiado | PSD | Not available | About 2% |
| Other candidates | — | — | Under 1% each |
A total of 125,275,835 of the 158,745,502 registered voters cast ballots. Abstention reached a record 21.08%, with 33.5 million people not voting. There were 2,300,798 blank votes (1.84%) and 3,674,249 null votes (2.93%), according to CartaCapital. Augusto Cury's 2.89% is the lowest share for a third-place finisher in a presidential race since 1989.
What the polls say about Brazil's runoff
| Poll | Fieldwork | Flávio Bolsonaro (valid) | Lula (valid) | Sample and margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datafolha | October 13-15 | 51% | 49% | 2,520 people, ±2 points |
| Quaest | October 10-13 | 51% | 49% | 2,154 people, ±2 points |
| Datafolha (previous) | Week before | 52% | 48% | — |
In total votes, Datafolha gives Flávio Bolsonaro 47%, Lula 45%, blank or null 6% and undecided 2%; Quaest gives 46%, 44%, 9% and 1%, O Povo reported. With a two-point margin of error, both polls show a statistical tie. Between Datafolha's two rounds, the gap narrowed from four to two points.
Debates and key dates of Brazil's runoff
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 11 | Record debate, cancelled over scheduling conflicts |
| October 15 and 16 | Individual interviews on TV Globo |
| Sunday, October 18, 8 p.m. (Brasília) | Band debate |
| Friday, October 23 | Final debate on TV Globo, moderated by César Tralli |
| Sunday, October 25 | Runoff |
The schedule is the one published by Jornal do Comércio and O Povo. Debates are not mandatory in Brazil, but broadcasters must invite candidates from parties represented in Congress.
Who the two candidates are
Flávio Bolsonaro (Resende, 1981) has been a senator for Rio de Janeiro since 2019 and is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest after being convicted over the plot to overturn the 2022 election. His running mate is Alfredo Gaspar (PL). His full profile is in Flávio Bolsonaro: who he is, career and proposals.
Lula da Silva (Caetés, 1945) governed from 2003 to 2010 and returned to power in 2023. He is seeking a fourth term with Geraldo Alckmin as vice president, for the Brasil Pronto Pra Mais coalition. His profile is in Lula da Silva: who he is, his governments and proposals.
Why the election matters for the region
Brazil is Latin America's largest economy and its election sets the political tone for the region: after José Antonio Kast's victory in Chile, a Flávio Bolsonaro government would add another turn to the right, while a Lula win would keep the continent's main left-wing government in place. To compare how neighbouring economies are doing, see our Latin America inflation ranking and the minimum wage in Latin America.
Frequently asked questions
When is Brazil's runoff?
Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Who is in the runoff?
Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
Who won the first round?
Flávio Bolsonaro, with 47.03% of valid votes, against 45.16% for Lula.
What do the polls say?
Datafolha and Quaest give Flávio Bolsonaro 51% and Lula 49% of valid votes, a statistical tie within the margin of error.
When are the debates?
Band on Sunday, October 18, and TV Globo on Friday, October 23.
