Brazil 2026 presidential election runoff
Brazil's 2026 presidential runoff election pitted leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, with reporting covering the closely contested campaign, a bitter debate between the candidates, and Lula's re-election victory.
Current state
Brazil’s 25 October presidential runoff has concluded, with incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva winning re-election over right-wing challenger Senator Flávio Bolsonaro by 51.7% to 48.2%, according to official results.
2 sources · 2 reports · Updated 26 Oct 2026
Developments
- Key development
Lula won the runoff with 51.7% of the vote against Flávio Bolsonaro’s 48.2%, official results showed.
- Key development
Runoff voting took place on 25 October, with Brazil’s top electoral court extending voting by two hours.
- Key development
In the 4 October first round, neither Lula nor Flávio Bolsonaro won an outright majority, setting a 25 October runoff.
Current story coverage
Earlier coverage
- Brazil's Lula, Flavio Bolsonaro tied ahead of runoff vote With just under a week to go before the decisive presidential runoff election, polls show left-wing incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro are virtually tied.
- Brazil's Lula, Bolsonaro clash in bitter debate ahead of election runoff Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro traded personal attacks in a heated presidential debate on Sunday, a week before a closely contested runoff. The rivals accused each other of lying and corruption while clashing over the economy, security and healthcare ahead of the October 25 vote.
- Right-wing Flávio Bolsonaro wins first round of Brazil election With neither candidate getting more than 50% of the vote, the election will go to a run-off on 25 October.
- Bolsonaro clan wins big in multiple Brazil polls The Bolsonaro clan claimed victory in every race they contested in Brazil on Sunday, as Flavio Bolsonaro surpassed President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a first-round vote and several other family members won seats in Congress.
- Voting in Brazil's 2026 presidential election has begun, with polls showing Lula and Bolsonaro nearly tied Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former far-right populist President Jair Bolsonaro, is taking on incumbent left-wing President Lula da Silva. Polls show the first round of voting will likely lead to a runoff.
- Brazil’s Lula and Bolsonaro close campaigns ahead of critical election Latest polls suggest Lula's lead over Bolsonaro is narrowing, with neither candidate likely to win outright on Sunday.