Instagram users adopt political symbols for Brazilian elections

Users on Instagram are utilizing the platform’s ‘Notes’ feature to signal political preferences as the 2026 presidential campaign cycle begins in Brazil. Since Sunday, the short-form messaging tool has seen a surge in specific symbols used to denote support for major candidates.

Supporters of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) are frequently using gold stars on red backgrounds, a direct reference to the visual identity of the Workers' Party. Conversely, supporters of Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) are primarily using the Brazilian flag emoji, a symbol that has become closely associated with the Bolsonarista movement in recent years.

This digital trend coincided with the first major campaign events of the cycle, including a rally by Lula in São Bernardo do Campo and a meeting held by Flávio Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond emojis, some users are also incorporating music and other political references into their Notes to express their affiliations.