On Friday, January 9, 2026, Globo revealed the 20 contestants confined in five glass houses across Brazil, competing for spots in the Pipoca group of BBB 26, premiering on Monday, January 12. The public will vote to select half of them. Several candidates have already drawn attention with viral backstories and humorous mishaps.
Globo kicked off the reveal of Big Brother Brasil 26 glass house contestants on Friday, January 9, 2026. The 20 hopefuls, spread across five regional glass houses in Brazil, are vying for spots in the reality show via public vote. Half will join the Pipoca group of everyday participants.
In the Center-West glass house, 21-year-old Goiás rancher and influencer Paulo Augusto went viral after mistaking the door direction and slamming his face into the wall upon entry. Cheers, tears, and jumps of excitement marked the candidates' arrivals, but Paulo's blunder stole the spotlight on social media.
Another Center-West standout is Ricardo, a São Paulo native with TV experience: he served as presenter Eliana's bodyguard on SBT and appeared in a Globo series. From the Northeast, 29-year-old Rafaella Jaqueira brings viral fame, including a 2023 clip where she was dragged onstage at Léo Santana's show in Maceió.
Representing the North, 27-year-old Pará native Ricardinho, a professional freestyle footballer since age 8, holds two Guinness World Records. In the South, contenders Elisa Klein, 28; Samira Sagr, 25; Matheus Moreira, 25; and Pedro Henrique Espindola, 22, compete for two spots in locations like Porto Alegre and Curitiba.
The glass house format is building hype ahead of BBB 26's Globo premiere.
