Brazil Election Results: Will There Be a Runoff on October 25?

Brazil votes Oct 4: Lula vs Flávio Bolsonaro. Latest polls, results times in Nigeria, the UK and US, and what happens in the Oct 25 runoff.

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Brazil Election Results: Will There Be a Runoff on October 25?

Brazil votes on Sunday, October 4, 2026, and the final polls point to a close race between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes, the top two go to a runoff on October 25.

Updated: October 3, 2026

Brazil election results: what we know so far

[UPDATE AFTER POLLS CLOSE: add the TSE count, percentage reporting and whether a runoff is confirmed. Delete this line before publishing.]

Results come from Brazil's electoral court, the TSE. We will update this page as the count comes in.

When are the polls closing in Brazil?

Polls close at 5:00 p.m. Brasília time on October 4. The TSE usually begins publishing the electronic count within hours of closing.

LocationPolls close
Brasília (BRT)5:00 p.m.
Nigeria (WAT)9:00 p.m.
UK (BST)9:00 p.m.
US Eastern (EDT)4:00 p.m.
US Pacific (PDT)1:00 p.m.

Will there be a runoff in Brazil?

A runoff is likely. To win in the first round, a candidate needs more than 50% of valid votes. If nobody does, the two leading candidates face each other on October 25.

Final polls show both leading candidates well short of that mark, with 13 candidates on the ballot.

Who are the main candidates?

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The 80-year-old incumbent is seeking a fourth term. He previously served as president from 2003 to 2011.

Flávio Bolsonaro (PL). A senator and the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced in 2025 to 27 years in prison over a coup plot and is under house arrest, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Flávio is running on a platform that largely continues his father's policies.

Another candidate, Cury of the Avante party, was polling around 5% in recent surveys.

Brazil Election Results: Will There Be a Runoff on October 25?

Who is leading in the polls?

Lula leads in most first-round polls, but every runoff scenario is within the margin of error.

  • Datafolha (Sept 22-24): Lula 40%, Flávio Bolsonaro 36% in the first round. In a runoff, Lula 47%, Flávio 45%.
  • Quaest (released around Oct 1): Lula ahead by five points in the first round, with both tied at 42% in a runoff.

Pollsters have missed before, and some online polls show Flávio Bolsonaro ahead, so treat the numbers as a snapshot and not a forecast.

What is Brazil voting for?

Voters are choosing a president and vice president, members of the National Congress, governors for every state, and state legislative assemblies.

What happens after October 4?

  • If someone wins over 50% of valid votes: they are elected president.
  • If not: the runoff takes place on October 25 between the top two.

Why does Brazil's election matter outside Brazil?

Brazil is Latin America's largest democracy and biggest economy. The result will shape its regional politics, trade ties and climate policy.

Brazil election 2026 at a glance

QuestionAnswer
Election dateOctober 4, 2026
Runoff date (if needed)October 25, 2026
Polls close5:00 p.m. Brasília time (9:00 p.m. in Nigeria and the UK)
Leading candidatesLula (PT) and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL)
Candidates on the ballot13
Latest pollsLula leads round one; runoff is a statistical tie
Who counts the votes?The TSE, Brazil's electoral court

Bottom line

Brazil's first round is on October 4, and a runoff on October 25 between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro is the most likely outcome. The runoff polls are too close to call.

Check the TSE's official site for confirmed results. We will update this page as they come in.

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