Rio de Janeiro Daily Brief — Sunday, October 25, 2026
Rio wakes to a mild Sunday ahead of a runoff vote, with the Botanical Garden open for outdoor strolls.
The headline: Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and President Lula enter today’s runoff in a statistical tie: Datafolha’s final poll (23–24 October) gave Flávio 51% and Lula 49% of valid votes, within the 2-point margin of error.
Brazilian stocks rose 0.47% on Friday and the real gained 1.57% to 4.9654 per US dollar, while mid-October inflation cooled more than expected.
Your day in one line: vote if registered, then walk the Jardim Botânico’s open-air paths before a soft evening in Botafogo.
| Instrument | Level | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Ibovespa (Brazil) | 205,083 | +0.47% |
| USD/BRL | 4.9654 | -1.57% |
Source: market close, 23 October 2026.
01
Weather & What to Wear
FOUR-DAY OUTLOOK
Today feels fresh and comfortable, with partly cloudy skies and only a 20% chance of a passing shower. A light jacket works for late afternoon, but you will not need much more.
Tuesday starts warmer with a raised rain risk before Wednesday turns properly wet. Carry a compact umbrella from midweek.
Water around 22°C with gentle 0.5–1 m waves; most beaches show green flags but a few post yellow.
02
Day at a Glance
SNAPSHOT
A quiet, slightly tense Sunday — perfect for an unhurried garden walk.
Live Market IntelligenceBrazil — Live Market Board
Rio Times · Live Market Intelligence
Brazil — Live Market Board
+0.47%
205,082.56
+0.47%
69,879.62
-0.01%
10,746.36
-0.31%
3,017,221
—
2,540.10
+0.46%
57,021.19
+0.13%
| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBOV | 205,082.56 | +0.47% | +21.85% | 204,120.12 | 168,310 | 167,142 | — |
| USD/BRL | 5.16 | +0.01% | -5.13% | 5.16 | 5.18 | 5.14 | — |
| SELIC | 14.00% | — | — | — | — | — | |
| PETR4 | 41.64 | -0.05% | +35.19% | 41.66 | 41.97 | 41.15 | 41,499,400 |
| VALE3 | 72.97 | +0.83% | +30.75% | 72.37 | 73.54 | 72.66 | 17,658,000 |
| ITUB4 | 38.60 | -1.03% | +4.57% | 39.00 | 39.34 | 38.39 | 29,487,800 |
| BBDC4 | 16.85 | +0.36% | +3.50% | 16.79 | 16.90 | 16.67 | 19,416,900 |
| BBAS3 | 19.37 | +0.47% | +0.73% | 19.28 | 19.44 | 19.16 | 11,069,200 |
| B3SA3 | 14.26 | -0.21% | +12.73% | 14.29 | 14.47 | 14.11 | 33,037,800 |
| ABEV3 | 14.89 | -0.80% | +21.91% | 15.01 | 15.07 | 14.81 | 16,453,100 |
| WEGE3 | 47.59 | +0.49% | +29.99% | 47.36 | 48.08 | 47.36 | 3,364,600 |
| PRIO3 | 59.14 | -0.19% | +50.67% | 59.25 | 59.81 | 58.74 | 3,325,600 |
| SUZB3 | 41.33 | +2.35% | -23.55% | 40.38 | 41.48 | 40.35 | 3,914,900 |
| RENT3 | 34.68 | -0.09% | +0.84% | 34.71 | 34.96 | 34.35 | 7,979,100 |
| AZZA3 | 15.89 | -2.63% | -53.76% | 16.32 | 16.42 | 15.82 | 1,330,300 |
| CSNA3 | 4.30 | +0.47% | -42.65% | 4.28 | 4.41 | 4.26 | 10,076,100 |
| GGBR4 | 24.69 | +2.19% | +51.38% | 24.16 | 24.85 | 24.18 | 7,047,600 |
| ENEV3 | 24.21 | -1.38% | +70.49% | 24.55 | 24.64 | 23.99 | 9,297,000 |
03
What to See & Do
SUNDAY IN RIO
Vote early, then let the Botanical Garden reset you
The Jardim Botânico in Jardim Botânico opens its outdoor paths from 8am to 5pm on Sunday, even during the election weekend. Entry costs R$40 for residents and R$80 for foreigners.
Take the Metrô to Botafogo or Antero de Quental, then a short bus or taxi to the garden’s main gate. The single-journey Metrô fare is R$7.90.
Inside, the palm avenue and orchid house offer the quietest Sunday reset in the city. Pack water and wear walking shoes.
The real pleasure is simple: two hours of shade, imperial palms and no agenda before lunch in Jardim Botânico.
A slow Ipanema-to-Leblon seafront walk
If the garden feels too manicured, the seafront ciclovia from Ipanema to Leblon opens to pedestrians and bikes as it does every Sunday. The water sits near 22°C with gentle waves.
Start at Praça do Arpoador, climb the rock and watch surfers before coffee in Ipanema. Keep an eye on flags: yellow appeared at some posts.
Quiet corners for a laptop afternoon
Botafogo has several laptop-friendly cafés near the Botafogo Metrô station. Check opening hours before you go, as Sunday hours vary.
In Jardim Botânico, Coffee Five near the garden’s side entrance works for a post-walk session. Confirm weekend power outlets before settling in.
Free art at CCBB and Paço Imperial, no garden needed
Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil in Centro opens today from 9am to 8pm, with free entry. Walk through the rotunda galleries, then cross to Paço Imperial, also free, open 12pm to 6pm.
This is the day’s indoor counterweight: cool marble, tall rooms and zero sun. Take the VLT or Metrô to Carioca.
Botafogo bars and a calm close
Voting ends at 5pm BRT and results will dominate every screen in the city. Bars in Botafogo, like Bar Urca and Comuna, stay open late with stools facing the television.
For a quieter night, Libreria in Jardim Botânico sits two blocks from the garden with a short wine list and no big-screen noise.
Avoid driving through Centro after 7pm if first results create crowds around Cinelândia.
Museu do Amanhã — Praça Mauá, Centro — Thu–Tue 10am–6pm, R$40 (half R$20)
Paço Imperial — Centro — Tue–Sun 12pm–6pm, free
04
Getting Around
TRANSPORT
The Metrô single-journey fare is R$7.90; check MetrôRio for Sunday service on Lines 1, 2 and 4. Expect extra passengers near voting centres and avoid rush surges around 8–10am and 4–6pm.
The VLT light rail is the easiest link between Carioca and Praça Mauá. If rain arrives, ride-app prices spike quickly from Botafogo to Zona Sul.
05
Where to Eat
LUNCH & DINNER
Lunch: Try Bráz Pizzaria in Jardim Botânico or CT Boucherie in Leblon for a weekend lunch. Book ahead and check prices on the menus.
Dinner: Bar Urca in Urca offers a harbour view, and Ferro e Farinha in Botafogo is a casual option for a Sunday supper.
06
Practical Info
GOOD TO KNOW
Carry a water bottle, sunscreen and a power bank: voting queues plus garden paths make a long day. Pix and cards work widely, but keep R$40 cash for quick snacks.
Book lunch and dinner tables before 11am — election Sunday fills Zona Sul restaurants by early afternoon.
Stay on lit main roads after dark in Centro; Praça Mauá is busy until 8pm but quieter afterwards.
07
Community & Lifestyle
FOR NEWCOMERS
Expat and nomad groups have paused formal meetups for the election weekend; check the Rio Digital Nomads WhatsApp group now for Monday evening plans.
For newcomers, the easiest plug-in is the Sunday morning run club from Arpoador at 9am — find it via the ‘Rio Runners’ Instagram, not a generic listing.
08
Game Day
ELECTION DAY, NOT MATCH DAY
Football takes a back seat to the presidential runoff in Rio today. Check the clubs’ own channels for Flamengo’s and Fluminense’s next fixtures.
Rio’s public plazas and bars become de facto watch parties from 5pm BRT, when polls close and first results hit screens.
The smarter plan: stay in your own neighbourhood to avoid long cross-town trips as counts come in.
09
Business & Markets
WEEK IN FIGURES
Brazil’s main stock index, the Ibovespa, rose 0.47% to 205,083 on Friday. The real strengthened 1.57% to 4.9654 per US dollar (RT market data).
Mid-October inflation (IPCA-15) rose 0.32% in the month, below the 0.43% analysts expected and the 0.7% of the previous reading, and 4.62% over twelve months against a forecast of 4.73% (RT economic calendar, RT). The central bank’s rate committee, Copom, meets on 3–4 November, and the election is likely to dominate trading until then.
Ahead: Monday’s opening will be the first market test of the runoff result, with investors focused on the winner’s fiscal plans.
10
Plan Ahead
THE WEEK
Background: What to Do in Rio in October 2026.
Background: Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Tonight: Piaf, Fagner, Rockarioca.
11
FAQ
QUICK ANSWERS
When do polls close in Rio today?
Voting runs from 8am to 5pm local time in Rio de Janeiro.
Check your polling place and bring photo ID.
Can foreigners vote in Brazil’s runoff?
No.
Voting is compulsory only for Brazilian citizens, and foreign residents cannot vote.
How did Brazilian markets close on Friday?
The Ibovespa stock index rose 0.47% to 205,083 and the real strengthened 1.57% to 4.9654 per US dollar.
Markets are closed over the weekend.
Sources: Datafolha final poll (23–24 October); Banco Central do Brasil (Copom calendar); RT economic calendar (RT).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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