Lula’s campaign has signaled limited interest in early debates during Brazil’s 2026 presidential race, citing concerns over unequal conditions and low-substance exchanges. The president skipped the August 23 Band pool debate alongside leading rival Flávio Bolsonaro, with only lower-polling candidates appearing. Lula has publicly stated he will evaluate formats and avoid events that do not advance substantive discussion, while his team has historically prioritized the final pre-first-round slot. Organizers of the September 14 Momento da Decisão consortium recently set a September 7 confirmation deadline, yet uncertainty persists as other frontrunners condition participation on Lula’s presence. This pattern aligns with Lula’s selective approach in prior cycles and supports trader expectations that he will bypass additional September events before the October 4 first round.