Samyra Gonçalves (on the left), princess, and Alessa Esper, queen of the Festa do Peão de Barretos 2026 Guizy On a night marked by country tradition, organized fans and emotion, production engineering student Alessa Esper, 21 years old, was elected queen of the Festa do Peão de Barretos 2026 this Friday (17). Law student Samyra Gonçalves, 21, won second place and received the title of princess of the 71st edition of the party. The choice was made by a panel of judges after the parade of the ten finalist candidates at an event at North Shopping Barretos. They were evaluated on criteria such as beauty, friendliness, resourcefulness, catwalk presence, charisma and communication. Participants also answered questions about the history and tradition of the largest rodeo in Latin America. The victory crowned a journey that began in childhood. Born in Prata (MG) and living in Barretos since she was a child, Alessa Esper grew up attending Parque do Peão alongside her father, attending rodeos and shows. A fan of country music — especially the duo Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano —, she always stated that representing the party was a dream. "It's the realization of a dream that I've had since I was a child. Receiving this ribbon represents much more than a title; it means assuming the mission of representing Barretos, our culture and the biggest Peão Festival in Latin America with dedication, pride and lots of love." Click here to follow the g1 Ribeirão e Franca channel on WhatsApp Alessa Esper, elected queen of the Festa do Peão de Barretos 2026 Guizy Princess Samyra Gonçalves also reached the final with a strong connection with the country universe. Born in Iguatemi (MS), she has lived in Barretos for six years and grew up watching roping competitions alongside her family. The candidate had already participated in the contest in 2023 and returned to the contest in search of a new opportunity, now more mature and experienced, after working as an international model. Upon being announced as princess, Samyra highlighted her pride in being part of the new court. "Sharing this night with such special women was a great victory. Receiving the title of Princess is an immense honor and I will represent this tradition with respect, joy and gratitude in every commitment that comes my way.” Samyra Gonçalves, elected princess of the Festa do Peão de Barretos 2026 Guizy The ceremony also celebrated country culture with performances of catira, viola caipira and choreographic performances inspired by the history of the Festa do Peão de Barretos. Before the result, Queen Lara Peghim and Princess Thaiene Galvão officially said goodbye to the titles won in 2025, passing the belt on to the new generation of party representatives. In addition to the title, the winners received prizes such as electric motorcycles and benefits that will accompany their reign throughout the next year. The Queen also received a full scholarship. Voting favorites on g1 Before the final, g1 promoted a poll for readers to choose their favorite candidate. Voting was only interactive in nature and did not influence the official result of the contest. Isabela Lima and Rayane Regina came in first and second place, respectively. The 71st Festa do Peão de Barretos takes place from August 20th to 30th, at Parque do Peão. The program includes rodeo, timed events, cultural attractions and more than 120 shows spread across five stages. Singer Gusttavo Lima is the ambassador for this edition. Queen of Barretos Competition 2026: Alessa Esper is passionate about country culture See more news from the region on g1 Ribeirão Preto and Franca VIDEOS: Everything about Ribeirão Preto, Franca and the region