What to know about Brazil’s 2026 presidential election

Brazilian voters will choose between incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, in the first round on October 4, 2026. Jair Bolsonaro, who lost in 2022, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for his role in a coup plot, raising concerns about Brazil's democratic stability. A major corruption scandal involving prominent figures across the political spectrum has emerged, and there are fears of foreign interference. Polls show Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro are in a close race.