Paolla Oliveira was officially crowned Queen of the Drum for the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The ceremony took place at the institution's traditional quadra located in Ramos, a neighborhood in the Zona Norte of Rio de Janeiro. This high-profile appointment marks Oliveira's return to active carnival leadership following her departure from Grande Rio, where she last served as queen in 2025.

Coronation Ceremony Details and Performances

Singer Iza, who previously held the role of the school's Queen of the Drum through 2026, personally performed the official coronation duties during the gathering. The event drew a substantial crowd comprised of school members, dedicated fans, and members of the press to witness the handover and celebrate the beginning of the new tenure.

Festivities surrounding the official coronation included a communal feijoada alongside live musical performances from prominent Brazilian artists. Attendees enjoyed sets performed by Jorge Aragão, Xande de Pilares, and Iza, anchoring the ceremony within a broader cultural celebration for the community.

Ahead of stepping back into the prominent role, Oliveira publicly expressed a mixture of excitement and nervousness regarding her return. The milestone event serves as an integral part of the school's wider preparations and celebrations leading directly into the upcoming 2027 carnival season.

Beyond the formal handover, the evening highlighted the ongoing shifts within Rio de Janeiro samba school leadership hierarchies. Oliveira's arrival at Imperatriz Leopoldinense follows her prior exit from Grande Rio, which she previously stepped away from due to competing professional obligations and family commitments. The transition emphasizes how prominent figures navigate multi-year commitments across different elite institutions within the competitive samba circuit.

While the quadra event served as a major public spectacle complete with custom crystal-adorned attire and extensive media coverage, the underlying preparations for 2027 remain in their early stages. Observers and school supporters can conclude that Oliveira's tenure is firmly established for the upcoming cycle, though subsequent artistic milestones will depend on the progression of rehearsals and community alignment leading up to the official competition.

Broader Context and Carnival Preparation

Paolla Oliveira's transition to Imperatriz Leopoldinense follows her earlier departure from Grande Rio, which was attributed to specific work and family commitments. Her return to the avenue marks a significant shift in her carnival career after last holding a royal drum position during the 2025 festivities.

The celebratory gathering in Ramos functioned directly as an operational milestone for the institution. It bridged the gap between off-season administrative transitions and the intensive performance schedule required for the upcoming competitive cycle.

Limitations surrounding the transition remain tethered to the school's internal calendar and organizational milestones. While the public coronation establishes Oliveira's formal title, detailed rehearsal schedules and subsequent community appearances will unfold progressively as the organization advances its preparations.

The next confirmed phase for the institution involves ongoing community gatherings and rehearsals as members gear up for their official presentation. These forthcoming sessions will test the newly established alignment between the leadership, the percussion ensemble, and the broader membership ahead of the main competition.