Carnival Politics: Lula's Festival Tour and Controversy Over Public Funding in 2026

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is leveraging Brazil's iconic Carnaval festivities as a dynamic platform for his 2026 re-election campaign, embarking on a strategic tour through Recife, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro. Beginning February 14, Lula's itinerary intertwines celebration and politics, as he participates in major Carnaval events while strengthening political ties crucial to his electoral bid.

In Recife, Lula attended the renowned Galo da Madrugada parade from the official box of Mayor João Campos, reinforcing his Northeast roots and solid electoral support in the region. He then proceeded to Salvador, where he engaged with local Workers' Party leaders and was expected to possibly appear on a trio elétrico led by singer and Culture Minister Margareth Menezes, highlighting Bahia’s significance as Brazil's fourth-largest electoral college.

On February 15 in Rio de Janeiro, Lula took in samba school parades from Mayor Eduardo Paes' box, an ally, with the Acadêmicos de Niterói samba school honoring him through their samba-enredo "Do Alto do Mulungu surge a esperança: Lula, o operário do Brasil." First Lady Janja Lula da Silva also gained prominence during the parade. Notably, the federal government allocated R$ 12 million to support Rio's samba schools, distributing R$ 1 million to each of the 12 schools participating.

However, this celebration has sparked controversy. The Acadêmicos de Niterói faced legal scrutiny for their politically charged theme praising Lula amid the election year, raising concerns over the use of taxpayer money for electoral propaganda. The school’s president, Anderson Pipico, a Workers' Party member, affirmed that their performance was a tribute to Lula’s social policies such as combating hunger and advancing income distribution. Critics argue that while samba schools have historically received state support since the 1930s, the direct politicization of Carnaval funding as electoral propaganda is unprecedented and contentious.

Lula’s Carnaval tour concludes in Brasília on February 16, before he departs on official foreign policy trips to India and South Korea. This fusion of culture and politics at Carnaval underscores the complex interplay between public festivities and electoral strategy in Brazil's sensitive election period.