Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro meet in their first debate a week before Brazil's run-off

18 October 2026

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, who is seeking a fourth term, and Liberal Party candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, a right-wing senator, held their first debate on 18 October 2026 in Sao Paulo, a week before Brazil's presidential run-off. Both had declined earlier debate invitations. In the first round on 4 October 2026, Flavio Bolsonaro took 47 per cent to Lula's 45 per cent. About 33 million voters, roughly one in five of those eligible, did not vote in the first round. The run-off is on 25 October 2026 and a second debate was scheduled for 23 October. During the debate Flavio Bolsonaro said his father's pandemic record was not among that government's best results and apologised for it. Jair Bolsonaro is under house arrest while serving a 27-year sentence linked to efforts to overturn the 2022 election.