The 2026 Campeonato Cearense (officially the Campeonato Cearense 2026 for sponsorship reasons) was the 112th edition of Ceará's top professional football league organized by FCF. The competition began on 6 January and ended on 8 March 2026. Ceará were the defending champions.
Format In the first stage, the 10 teams were drawn into two groups of five teams each. Group AGroup B
Each team played each of the other four teams once in a round-robin tournament. The top three teams from Groups A and B advanced to the second stage, forming Groups C and D, respectively. Meanwhile, the bottom two teams from Groups A and B played in the relegation stage. This stage was played in a single round-robin format. The bottom two teams were relegated to the 2027 Campeonato Cearense Série B.
In the second stage, each team participated in a single round-robin tournament against the three clubs from the other group. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals, while the third-place teams competed for fifth place.
During the first, second and relegation stages, the teams will be ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, the following criteria will be used to determine the ranking: 1. Wins; 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Fewest red cards; 5. Fewest yellow cards; 6. Draw in the headquarters of the FCF.
The fifth-place and the third-place matches will be played in a single-leg format. The team with the best overall performance will host the match. If tied, the penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winners.
The semi-finals and the finals will be played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If tied on aggregate, the penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winners. For the finals, the team with best overall performance will host the second leg.
The champions, runners-up, and third-place team will qualify for the 2027 Copa do Brasil. The top three teams that are not already qualified for the 2027 Série A, B, or C will qualify for the 2027 Série D.
Teams Club Home city Manager Ceará Fortaleza Mozart Ferroviário Fortaleza Nuno Pereira Floresta Fortaleza Leston Júnior Fortaleza Fortaleza Thiago Carpini Horizonte Horizonte Adriano Albino Iguatu Iguatu Washington Luiz Maracanã Maracanaú Júnior Cearense Maranguape Maranguape João Neto Quixadá Quixadá Jazon Vieira Tirol Fortaleza Ailton Silva
First stage Group A
Group B
Second stage Group C
Group D
Relegation stage Standings and Results
Semi-finals
Group E
Group F
Fifth place match
Third place match
Finals
Group G
GK12 BrennoDF22 MaíltonDF2 Emanuel Brítez (c)DF3 Lucas GazalDF4 Luan Freitas DF18 Gabriel FuentesMF29 Rodrigo MF5 Pierre MF88 Lucas Sasha FW7 Tomás Pochettino FW32 Luiz Fernando Substitutes:GK25 Vinícius SilvestreDF33 Kauã RochaDF36 Guilherme MouraMF8 Ronald MF10 Lucas Crispim MF19 Lucas Emanoel MF35 BruninhoMF37 RyanMF38 Lucca Prior FW11 VitinhoFW21 GBFW75 RodriguinhoCoach: Thiago Carpini GK1 Richard (c)DF21 Alex SilvaDF33 ÉderDF18 Júlio César DF4 Luiz OtávioDF17 Fernando MF31 Lucas LimaMF25 Vinicius Zanocelo FW7 Pedro Henrique FW9 Wendel Silva FW98 Matheusinho Substitutes:GK23 JorgeGK41 Gustavo MartinsDF2 Rafael Ramos DF3 Ronald CarvalhoDF13 Luiz Otávio LeandroDF63 Gilmar MF26 RichardsonMF40 Melk MF81 João GabrielFW11 Fernandinho FW35 GiulioFW99 Lucca Coach: Mozart Assistant referees: José Moracy de Sousa e Silva Deborah Beatriz Ferreira da Silva Fourth official: Luciano da Silva Miranda Filho Fifth official: Wladyerisson Silva Oliveira Video assistant referee: Rodrigo Nunes de Sá (Rio de Janeiro) Assistant video assistant referees: Renan Aguiar da Costa Rejane Caetano da Silva
GK1 Richard (c) DF21 Alex Silva DF4 Luiz OtávioDF33 ÉderDF17 Fernando MF31 Lucas LimaMF25 Vinicius Zanocelo MF40 Melk FW8 Matheus Araújo FW9 Wendel Silva FW98 Matheusinho Substitutes:GK94 Bruno FerreiraDF2 Rafael Ramos DF3 Ronald CarvalhoDF13 Luiz Otávio LeandroDF63 GilmarMF10 Juan Alano MF26 RichardsonMF29 Vina MF81 João GabrielFW11 Fernandinho FW99 Lucca Coach: Mozart GK12 BrennoDF22 MaíltonDF2 Emanuel Brítez (c) DF3 Lucas GazalDF4 Luan Freitas DF18 Gabriel FuentesMF29 Rodrigo MF5 Pierre MF88 Lucas SashaFW7 Tomás PochettinoFW32 Luiz Fernando Substitutes:GK25 Vinícius SilvestreDF33 Kauã RochaDF36 Guilherme MouraDF43 João LucasMF8 Ronald MF10 Lucas Crispim MF19 Lucas EmanoelMF37 RyanMF38 Lucca Prior FW11 Vitinho FW21 GBFW75 RodriguinhoCoach: Thiago Carpini Assistant referees: Nailton Júnior de Sousa Oliveira Renan Aguiar da Costa Fourth official: Léo Simão Holanda Fifth official: Elizabete Esmeralda Cordeiro dos Santos Gomes Video assistant referee: Wagner Reway (Santa Catarina) Assistant video assistant referees: Eleutério Felipe Marques Júnior Antônio Magno Lima Cordeiro
Overall table
References