Big Brother Brasil 26 was the twenty-sixth season of the Brazilian reality show Big Brother Brasil, broadcast by TV Globo from 12 January to 21 April 2026. The season was hosted by journalist Tadeu Schmidt, with general direction by Mário Marcondes, artistic direction by Angélica Campos, and genre direction by Rodrigo Dourado.
The season featured 100 days of confinement, tied with seasons 21 through 25 as the longest-running editions of the reality show. It was the first season to feature a mix of anonymous contestants (Pipoca), celebrities (Camarote), and returning housemates (Veteranos) in the cast. It was also the edition with the highest number of contestants leaving the show without facing the public vote, with one medical withdrawal (Henri Castelli), one walkout (Pedro Espíndola), and three disqualifications (Paulo Augusto, Sol Vega, and Edílson Capetinha, respectively).
The season concluded with journalist and former Big Brother Brasil 16 housemate Ana Paula Renault winning with 75.94% of the vote, taking home the tax-free grand prize of R$ 5.7 million—the largest in the show's history—along with a Geely EX5 EM-i hybrid car and an apartment. She became the second veteran and the oldest contestant to win the show. BBB 26 was marked by having the highest social media engagement since Big Brother Brasil 21, recording three times higher growth compared to BBB 25 and twice that of BBB 24, despite receiving the second-lowest average broadcast television ratings in the show's history. Additionally, advertising revenue for the season was estimated at R$ 1.5 billion.
Broadcast The series is broadcast daily on TV Globo in free-to-air format and on Multishow via subscription television, with live 1-hour segments after the main show's conclusion on free-to-air TV. Continuous live feeds coverage is available through the pay-per-view (PPV) service exclusively on Globoplay for Globo.com subscribers.
The game
Housemates Applications for Big Brother Brasil 26 started on April 17, 2025, during the broadcast of Big Brother Brasil 25.
This season's twist reused the format from the past few seasons, with housemates now being divided into three groups: Civilians (everyday Brazilians), Celebrities (notable media personalities), and Veterans (past housemates).
BBB Selection The Glass House twist, in which housemate prospects are displayed in a shopping mall to compete for a spot in the cast, was taken to a whole other level this season. Around the five regions of the country, 20 housemates went through a public vote, with two men and two women in each Glass House competing for a spot in the cast.
The voting happened from January 9 to 11, with special broadcasts every night on TV Globo. On the night of the 11th, the housemates chosen by the audience to compose the cast were revealed, with the losers being separated once again to await further chances of making the cast.
North Region Name Age Occupation Hometown Result Livia Christina Ribeiro Castro 26 Dancer Parintins, AmazonasNot chosen Marciele Albuquerque da Silva 32 Dancer Juruti, ParáChosen Brigido Torres Nogueira Neto 34 Businessman and school principal Manaus, AmazonasChosen Ricardo Fabiano Chahini de Araujo (Ricardinho) 27 Professional athlete of freestyle soccer Belém, ParáNot chosen
Northeast Region Name Age Occupation Hometown Result Maxiane Rodrigues da Silva 32 Digital influencer Nazaré da Mata, PernambucoChosen Rafaella Fernandes de Farias Lima 29 Occupational therapist and veterinary student Maceió, AlagoasNot chosen Leandro Rocha 42 Cultural producer Salvador, BahiaNot chosen Marcelo Alves de Araujo Filho 31 Doctor Currais Novos, Rio Grande do NorteChosen
Central-West Region Name Age Occupation Hometown Result Chaiany Pinto de Andrade 25 Unemployed São João d'Aliança, GoiásNot chosen Jordana Ribeiro Morais 29 Lawyer and model Paraíso do Tocantins, TocantinsChosen Paulo Augusto Carvalhaes 21 Veterinary student and digital influencer Inhumas, GoiásChosen Ricardo Negro 35 Model and dancer Niquelândia, GoiásNot chosen
Southeast Region Name Age Occupation Hometown Result Gabriela Saporito de Almeida 21 Psychology student and street vendor São Paulo, São PauloNot chosen Milena Moreira Lages 26 Babysitter & kids’ party entertainer Itambacuri, Minas GeraisChosen Breno Rangel Moreira Corã 33 Biologist and model Contagem, Minas GeraisChosen Marcel Felipe de Lucena 35 Lawyer Catanduva, São PauloWalked
South Region Name Age Occupation Hometown Result Elisa Fagundes Klein 28 Model Canoas, Rio Grande do SulNot chosen Samira Nasser Said Sagr 25 Bartender São Jerônimo, Rio Grande do SulChosen Matheus Moreira 25 Banker and boxing coach Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do SulNot chosen Pedro Henrique Espindola 22 Street vendor Colombo, ParanáChosen
White Room On premiere night, however, it was then revealed that the 9 housemates not chosen would compete in an endurance test in the infamous White Room. At first, it was announced that only the two housemates who lasted the longest would earn spots in the cast. This number was later increased to three on Friday, following the removal of Celeb Henri Castelli for medical reasons. Eventually, it was further expanded to four due to health concerns for the remaining contestants, who had surpassed the 100-hour mark in the room.
+ Name Age Hometown Occupation Dayentered Dayexited Result Chaiany Andrade 25 São João d'Aliança Unemployed 1 7 rowspan=4 Gabriela Saporito 21 São Paulo Psychology student and street vendor 1 7 Leandro Rocha 42 Salvador Cultural producer 1 7 Matheus Moreira 25 Porto Alegre Banker and boxing coach 1 7 Rafaella Lima 29 Maceió and veterinary student 1 7 Withdrew Ricardo Negro 35 Niquelândia Model and dancer 1 6 Livia Christina 26 Parintins Dancer 1 5 Elisa Klein 28 Canoas Model 1 4 Ricardinho Chahini 27 Belém Professional athlete of freestyle soccer 1 2
Voting System The voting system remains the same as used since Big Brother Brasil 24, with a couple of changes. Besides the unlimited online votes (called the Fan Vote), the viewers would have the option to cast only one vote using their CPF, the Brazilian equivalent to a Social Security Number (called the Sole Vote). This season, however, the Fan Vote would have a weighted average of 30%, and the Sole Vote an average of 70%, following audience complaints that the results of the past few seasons (in particular the wins of Amanda Meirelles in Big Brother Brasil 23 and Renata Saldanha in Big Brother Brasil 25) did not accurately reflect the opinion of the masses.
Prize This season, the prize is, unlike previous seasons, fixed at R$ 5,4 million, the biggest in the history of the show and of all Big Brother seasons around the world, being displayed to the house in the living room.
Big Sincere This season, the Big Sincere used since Big Brother Brasil 24 continues, airing every Monday. Originally intended to be done only by the protagonists of the week (the Head of Household, Power of Immunity holder, and the nominees), it was now expanded to include all participants, with only a selected few appearing on the live broadcast and the remainder appearing at the Pay-per-view stream.
Host Tadeu Schmidt will ask questions based on the topics selected by housemates. Usually, confrontations are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds, and a chance to respond, when given, is limited to 30 seconds. This season, a live studio audience may suggest questions to the host, and vote for a specific contestant in a given question (e.g. "who was the best/worst this week", "who is invisible at the game").
The HoH's Crosshairs After the result of the HoH's competition, the winner of the competition will take part in "The HoH's Crosshairs" twist, where they are required to hand out a pre-determined number of wristbands to housemates they are considering nominating on Sunday night. The HoH must then choose their nomination for eviction among the housemates pre-selected, without any room to change their minds.
While intended to continue as the season-long twist it has been since Big Brother Brasil 24, the limiting nature of the twist was wildly panned by the audience, leading to it being discontinued following Week 1. Week HoH(s) Chosen housemates Nominated 1 Alberto BrenoMaxianeMilenaPauloSamira Milena
Big Phone There'll be three Big Phones in different places of the house, with the public being allowed to vote for which one is going to ring, unleashing good or bad consequences on the nomination process.
Week Housemate Big Phone Date Time (BRT) Consequences 1 Marcelo Golden January 15, 2026 Friday11:05 p.m. See note 4 3 Breno Silver January 29, 2026 Thursday10:30 p.m. See note 8 Babu Silver January 30, 2026 Friday10:05 a.m. See note 10 Marcelo Golden Friday11:05 p.m. Juliano Blue January 31, 2026 Saturday11:05 p.m. 6 Chaiany Blue February 21, 2026 Saturday11:05 p.m.See note 16 11 Milena Golden March 29, 2026 Sunday3:55 p.m. See note 18
The Counterattack The Counterattack is a power occasionally given to a nominee, granting them the opportunity to nominate an additional housemate for eviction, effectively dragging another player to the block with them. While viewers are informed when the power will be featured in advance (on Thursdays before the Head of Household competition even takes place), the housemates are only informed about the twist on the spot.
Week Housemate Status Result 1 Aline nominee 5 4 Babu nominee 12 6 Chaiany nominee 17
Win-wins Since Week 2, the Win-wins, a Mercado Pago-sponsored twist, was added, in which three randomly selected housemates get the chance to either win R$20,000 or win half of said value in exchange for exclusive information about the upcoming week's events. The three housemates go to a secret room, and each one chooses an envelope, deciding whether to leave or stay. The person chosen to leave must also veto someone from continuing in the activity. The remaining person can choose between winning R$20,000 or winning R$10,000 and exclusive information.
Surprise boxes On January 22, Week 2, five boxes with different effects were placed in the backyard of the house. The first housemate to touch the box must open it, receive the consequence inside it, and choose another housemate to open the second box, and so on. WeekHousemateConsequenceResult2AlbertoBoth housemates would nominate another housemate in consensus. Leandro was nominated.BrigidoAna PaulaHousemate would have their vote doubled that week.Ana Paula's vote was not doubled because she was later vetoed.JonasHousemate would not vote that week.Jonas was vetoed.SarahHousemate would veto someone from voting that week.Ana Paula was vetoed.
Risky Duel Introduced in Week 4, the Risky Duel is an occasional twist that gives housemates a chance to face one of their targets in a logic-based game, where both are given a chance at immunity and face the risk of being nominated. Unbeknownst to the cast, the answers they provide in small midweek Big Sinceres (usually on Fridays) are later used for the twists.
Week Dilemma Game Housemate Target Result 4 Who would you most like to face on a block?Housemates are asked who they would like to face on eviction. A name chosen by random draw will face off against its intended target. The two housemates participate in a Prisoner’s Dilemma–style scenario in which each privately selects one of two cards: 'Immunity' or 'Nominate'. The outcomes are as follows: If one housemate selects 'Immunity' and the other selects 'Nominate', the latter will be nominated alone. If both choose 'Immunity', both are nominated.