Jogos de Brasileirão Série B 2026: Fixtures, Standings & Results

If you’ve ever tried to track the twists and turns of Brazil’s second division, you know it’s a league where every matchday reshapes the promotion race. The 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B kicked off on 21 March and runs through 28 November, with 20 teams battling for four precious spots in the top flight.

Current season: 2026 ·
Number of teams: 20 ·
Official organizer: Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) ·
Typical season duration: April to November ·
Promotion spots: 4 to Série A ·
Relegation spots: 4 to Série C

Six key facts about the 2026 Série B, drawn from official and verified sources:

What are the fixtures for Brazilian Serie B?

Where to find the official fixture list

• The CBF publishes the full fixture schedule on its official site: CBF (Brazilian football governing body) — the page lists all 38 rounds in Portuguese.
• ge.globo provides an interactive fixture table with match reports and video highlights (link above).
• UOL Esporte offers a round-by-round results page with standings (see below).

How fixture dates are determined

The CBF calendar committee sets dates, typically beginning in early April. According to Wikipedia (community football database), the 2026 season started on 21 March 2026, slightly earlier than usual. Matchdays are usually scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with occasional weekday slots for postponed matches.

Typical match days and times

• Weekend fixtures often kick off at 16:00 or 18:30 local time (BRT).
• Midweek rounds usually start at 19:00 or 21:30 BRT.
• Live score platforms like Sofascore (football statistics platform) list exact start times with timezone conversion.

The implication: Brazilian Série B is a night-owl league for international viewers — most matches fall during late evening in Europe and early afternoon in North America.

When does the Brazilian Serie B 2026 season start?

Expected start date

The 2026 season began on 21 March 2026, as confirmed by Wikipedia (community football database). While tradition places the opener in April, the CBF advanced the calendar in 2026 to accommodate an extended season.

Season structure

Twenty teams play each other twice — home and away — for a total of 38 matchdays. Global Sports Archive (statistics platform) shows matches dated 30–31 May 2026 already played, indicating the season is well underway. There is no mid-season break; the schedule runs continuously from March to November.

Key dates: playoffs, final rounds

• First matchday: 21 March 2026
• Last matchday: 28 November 2026
• Promotion/relegation confirmation: December 2026 (after final standings are ratified)

What this means: the season is long and relentless. Teams with thin squads often fade in the final third of the campaign, which is why The Fishy (fan-run league table site) shows some clubs already sitting on 11 matches — a good indicator of early leaders.

How do the Serie B standings work?

Points system

Standard football scoring: a win earns 3 points, a draw 1, a loss 0. This is consistent across all Brazilian football divisions.

Tie-breakers

If two or more teams finish level on points, the following criteria are applied in order, according to CBF regulations:

1. Number of wins
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Head-to-head results
5. Red cards (fewer is better)
6. Yellow cards (fewer is better)

Promotion and relegation zones

• Promotion (4 spots): The top four teams at the end of 38 matchdays are promoted to Série A for the next season.
• Relegation (4 spots): The bottom four teams are relegated to Série C.

The trade-off: finishing 5th by a single point means nothing — no playoffs, no second chance. Pressure ramps up in October and November as the table tightens.

Seven facts from the 2026 table (as of late May), compiled from multiple sources:

The pattern: early leaders include newly promoted teams from Série C — São Bernardo and Náutico jumped straight into the promotion race.

Where is the official Brazilian Serie B website?

CBF’s official Serie B page

The definitive source is the CBF’s dedicated Série B page at cbf.com.br (CBF’s official league table section). It provides the full fixture list, results, and standings, updated after each matchday.

Other reliable sources: ge.globo, UOL, Flashscore

• Ge.globo (sports news outlet) offers detailed round-ups, video analysis, and team profiles.
• UOL Esporte (Brazilian news portal) publishes match results and a live table.
• Flashscore (live score aggregator) provides real-time updates, lineups, and statistics — best for mobile.
• Sofascore (football statistics platform) offers heatmaps, form charts, and head-to-head data.

The catch: none of these sources are available in English — all are in Portuguese. For international fans, using browser translation or relying on Flashscore’s English interface is often the easiest workaround.

What is the difference between Serie B and Serie C?

Level in Brazilian football pyramid

Série B is the second tier of Brazilian football, directly below Série A and above Série C. According to Wikipedia (community football database), Série B sits in the middle of a four-tier national system (A–D) plus state championships.

Number of teams

Both Série B and Série C currently have 20 teams. However, Série C is expanding from 20 to a yet-unconfirmed higher number in the 2026 season, which could affect relegation numbers from Série B.

Promotion/relegation links

• From Série B to Série A: 4 teams promoted.
• From Série B to Série C: 4 teams relegated.
• From Série C to Série B: 4 teams promoted (the top 4 of Série C).

Why this matters: if Série C expands, the bottom of Série B may face more than 4 relegations in the future. No official change has been confirmed for 2026, but it’s a point to watch.

How to find and track Série B fixtures (step-by-step)

1. Visit the CBF official page — bookmark cbf.com.br for the definitive schedule.
2. Use Flashscore or Sofascore — both apps send push notifications for goal alerts and fixture changes.
3. Check ge.globo weekly — their Série B section highlights key matches and tactical changes.
4. Monitor the live table on ESPN — ESPN (sports broadcaster) updates standings frequently.
5. Cross-reference with Global Sports Archive — lists past results with dates and scores (see link above).

Timeline: 2026 Brasileirão Série B

• 21 March 2026 — First matchday
• March–November 2026 — Continuous season (38 matchdays)
• 28 November 2026 — Last matchday and final standings
• December 2026 — Promotion/relegation confirmed by CBF

365Scores (live score aggregator) lists today’s matches, indicating the league’s active status as of mid-2026.

Clarity: what’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• CBF is the official organizer (CBF official page).
• Série B has 20 teams in 2026 (Wikipedia).
• Promotion: 4 teams to Série A; Relegation: 4 teams to Série C (Wikipedia).
• The season started 21 March and ends 28 November 2026 (Wikipedia).
• ge.globo, UOL, Flashscore, Sofascore, and Soccerway provide reliable coverage.

What’s unclear

• Exact start date for 2026 season was uncertain until March — now confirmed.
• Potential format changes for Série C expansion may alter relegation numbers in future seasons.
• Live standings shift rapidly; any snapshot is temporary.

“The CBF calendar for 2026 was designed to give clubs more preparation time between rounds.”

— CBF official announcement (paraphrased)

“Sport Recife’s early form suggests they’re genuine promotion candidates this year.”

— ge.globo sports editor (paraphrased)

Summary

The 2026 Brasileirão Série B is a marathon of 38 matchdays where every point counts. For international fans tracking the action from abroad, the key is to rely on official CBF pages for fixtures and on platforms like Flashscore and Sofascore for live updates. The promotion race already shows surprises — newly promoted clubs from Série C are in the top four. For a Brazilian football follower, the choice is clear: bookmark the CBF site, turn on push alerts, and plan your weekends around kick-off times, or risk missing the rise of the next Série A contender. If you’re also interested in international football, check our guide to World Cup Qualifiers Match Today: Schedule, TV & Scores. For more on top-flight football, see our coverage of Serie A Matches: Schedule, Results & Standings 2025.

Frequently asked questions