2026 Brazilian Presidential Debate to Proceed Without Key Figures Lula and Bolsonaro

The first televised debate among candidates for the Brazilian presidency in the 2026 election is set to broadcast on Sunday, August 23, at 8 PM on TV Band from São Paulo. This debate, organized by Grupo Bandeirantes in partnership with Estadão and other media outlets, will provide a critical platform for several candidates amid notable absences of major political figures.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), two of the most prominent candidates, have confirmed they will not attend. Lula's campaign expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of candidates from smaller parties, leading to his team's decision to boycott the event. Similarly, Senator Bolsonaro is also expected to be absent. In response to Lula's absence, Romeu Zema (Novo), who initially intended to participate, withdrew from the debate, emphasizing that the discussion would lose significance without participation from key opposing candidates.

Candidates confirmed to participate include Augusto Cury (Avante), Renan Santos (Missão), and Ronaldo Caiado (PSD). Pablo Marçal (PRTB) is barred from participating due to ongoing legal challenges to his candidacy. This scenario creates a unique opportunity for these lesser-known candidates to increase their visibility, especially since recent polls indicate relatively low name recognition among voters—43% for Caiado, 47% for Zema, and 65% for Santos according to a Quaest survey.

The debate will be moderated by Adriana Araújo and Eduardo Oinegue and structured into three thematic blocks featuring questions from both hosts and journalists affiliated with Grupo Bandeirantes. The format also encourages direct questioning among candidates and equal speaking time to ensure a balanced discourse. The event, expected to last around four hours, will be broadcast simultaneously via TV Band, Rádio Bandeirantes, BandNews FM, the YouTube channel of Band Jornalismo, and the Bandplay platform.

This first open television debate sets a distinct tone for the election campaign, highlighting the dynamics created by the absence of front-runners and potentially shifting public attention toward emerging candidates preparing to take center stage in Brazil's political landscape.