Globo Launches 'Volta a Fita' Series Revisiting Historic Brazilian Election Debates Ahead of 2026 Showdown

O Globo unveiled a new video series titled 'Volta a Fita' that debuted on Sunday, August 23, 2026, recounting the most striking, tense and unusual moments from Brazilian presidential elections since the country's redemocratization in 1985. The series compiles clips from past debates, highlighting exchanges that have defined Brazil's democratic discourse.

The launch coincides with the inaugural debate of the 2026 election cycle, scheduled for the same evening on TV Bandeirantes. The debate is set to feature Ronaldo Caiado (PSD), Renan Santos (Missão) and Augusto Cury (Avante). Romeu Zema (Novo) withdrew his participation a few hours before the event, while the two frontrunners in opinion polls—incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL)—have not confirmed their attendance.

According to O Globo, the series aims to provide context for anglophone readers unfamiliar with Brazilian political history by explaining the significance of past confrontations, such as the legendary 1989 encounter between Leonel Brizola and Fernando Collor, and more recent clashes like those between Lula and Jair Bolsonaro in 2018 and 2022. The outlet notes that the series is part of a broader election coverage package that includes live analysis, newsletters and in-depth reporting on topics such as violence, economy and religion.

O Globo also promotes its accompanying videocast 'Fora da bolha', which discusses campaign themes with a lighter tone and invites viewer questions.

All factual details are drawn from the O Globo report published on August 23, 2026.