Carnival receives at least R$85 million in federal amendments and sponsorship

The 2026 Carnival festivities counted on at least R$85.2 million in federal resources, including parliamentary amendments and sponsorship from government-linked bodies, such as Caixa and Embratur.

The survey carried out by the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo considers transfers identified in official diaries and budget execution documents until last Wednesday (12), with mentions of terms such as “Carnival”, “parade” and “samba school”.

Of this total, according to the newspaper, around R$52 million was allocated through parliamentary amendments. In a pre-election year, the allocation of resources to popular festivals is usually strategic to increase political visibility in local strongholds.

One of the most controversial points involves the transfer of R$1 million from Embratur to the Acadêmicos de Niterói school, which will honor President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in Sapucaí.

The first lady, Rosângela Lula da Silva, known as Janja, is expected to participate in the parade. Technicians from the Federal Court of Auditors recommended the precautionary suspension of sponsorship, but the case’s rapporteur, minister Aroldo Cedraz, decided to listen to the government, the agency and the Independent League of Samba Schools before deliberating.

According to Embratur, the amount is part of a broader sponsorship of R$12 million for the Rio Carnival, with a transfer of R$1 million to each school in the Special Group, the same amount as the previous year. Embratur also allocated R$450,000 to events in Salvador, Rio and Olinda.

Caixa approved R$14.8 million in sponsorships for this year’s Carnival. Among the main contracts are R$ 6.3 million for the “Camarote Viva Bahia”, in Salvador, R$ 1.8 million for the “ Nosso Camarote”, in Rio, and R$ 800 thousand for the party in Belo Horizonte. Shows and blocks in Pernambuco and Bahia were also included, with performances by BayanaSystem, Luiz Caldas and Saulo. In 2025, the bank had allocated R$12.9 million to the carnival period, out of a total of R$556 million in sponsorships contracted in the year.

Local governments also increased investments, according to the survey Sheet. The Rio government released R$40 million, while Riotur allocated R$51.6 million to schools. In São Paulo, the city hall contributed R$30.2 million.

The Ministry of Tourism projects the participation of 65 million people in festivities across the country, an increase of 22% over 2025, with an estimated turnover of R$18.6 billion, according to data from FecomercioSP.

Among the amendments, the Bahia bench concentrates more than R$30 million allocated to parties in different municipalities. The Chamber’s Tourism Committee contributed more than R$9 million. The survey does not include indirect expenses, such as projects supported by tax incentive laws.