Acadêmicos de Niterói relegated in Rio Carnival after parade marked by tribute to Lula

The Acadêmicos de Niterói samba school was relegated after the official results of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, ending its participation in the main division of the festival for the next season.

The result came after a parade that drew attention for paying homage to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, addressing his political and social trajectory as part of the storyline presented at the Marquês de Sapucaí.

Notes Define Relegation

Despite the repercussions of the issue, the relegation was determined exclusively by the technical evaluations of the judges, who considered criteria such as harmony, evolution, percussion section, samba theme song, costumes, floats, and overall impression.

According to the results, the school lost points in key categories, placing it at the bottom of the ranking table.

Debate on Social Media

The decision generated discussions on social media, with some of the public associating the result with the political nature of the theme. However, the Carnival organization emphasizes that the scores follow technical and independent criteria, without external interference.

Next Steps

With the relegation, Acadêmicos de Niterói will compete in the access division next year, seeking to return to the main group. The school's management stated that it has already begun planning for restructuring and preparing for the next parade.

This episode highlights how the Rio Carnival, in addition to being a cultural spectacle, also becomes a stage for historical, social, and political themes, frequently generating repercussions beyond the parade route.