Brazilian Celebrities Illuminate 2026 Carnival With High-Energy Appearances and Festive Moments
2026 Carnival fever surges as President Lula, Michel Teló, Ivete Sangalo, and others energize festivities with memorable performances and appearances in Salvador, São Paulo, and beyond.
- • President Lula celebrated Carnival in Salvador, dancing with BaianaSystem and engaging with crowds.
- • Michel Teló and Pocah attracted large audiences in São Paulo's street blocos amid intense heat.
- • João Gomes met international star Shawn Mendes backstage at Ivete Sangalo’s performance in Salvador.
- • Influencer Virginia departed Mangaratiba to debut as Grande Rio's Queen of the Drums on February 17.
Key details
The 2026 Carnival celebrations in Brazil have been marked by vibrant appearances and performances from notable celebrities across major cities. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at 80 years old, joined the revelry in Salvador on February 14, enjoying the energetic rhythms of BaianaSystem at the Campo Grande circuit alongside first lady Janja Lula da Silva. Lula's enthusiasm was captured in widely shared images and live broadcasts, highlighting his active engagement with the cultural festivities, particularly during the popular 'navio pirata' attraction that captivated large crowds.
In São Paulo, star-studded blocos attracted massive audiences amid intense heat on February 15. Michel Teló’s Sertanejinho bloco at Ibirapuera Park, despite a two-hour delay, drew crowds who braved temperatures above 31°C to hear hits like “Ai Se Eu Te Pego.” Likewise, Pocah energized attendees with performances of “Não sou Obrigada” and "Brincadeira Gostosa." Pabllo Vittar and Leo Santana are slated to continue this festive momentum with performances scheduled later in the Carnival period. The street festivities have been lively but not without challenges—earlier pre-Carnival megablocos saw crowd surges of around 1.5 million people, with Ivete Sangalo’s São Paulo debut necessitating brief performance pauses due to crowd control concerns.
Salvador also witnessed a star encounter where João Gomes met Canadian singer Shawn Mendes backstage during Ivete Sangalo’s Coruja bloco on February 14. Mendes, accompanied by actress Bruna Marquezine, was seen dancing affectionately on Ivete’s trio, drawing significant attention. João Gomes's excitement over the meet was shared on social media, while Ivete captured exclusive backstage moments with Mendes and Marquezine in a video.
Meanwhile, influencer Virginia bid farewell to her Mangaratiba beach mansion on February 15, setting off with her daughters and youngest son towards a helicopter to begin her Carnival marathon. She is poised to make a significant debut as Rainha de Bateria for the Grande Rio samba school on February 17, with her anticipated entry on the Sapucaí between 0:55 AM and 1:15 AM.
The 2026 Carnival is thus alive with dynamic celebrity participation, blending political figures, international stars, and samba royalty to create a colorful mosaic of Brazil’s cultural festivity.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
