Copa Espírito Santo (Brazil) 2026/27

The Copa Espírito Santo, currently operating under the title Copa ES Sicoob following a sponsorship agreement initiated in 2022, stands as the second-tier state football competition in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Organised by the Federação de Futebol do Estado do Espírito Santo (FES), the tournament occupies a distinct slot in the regional calendar, running during the second half of the year from July to November. This timing differentiates it sharply from the Campeonato Capixaba, the primary league which concludes in May and determines the state champion for continental qualification.

Established in 2003, the cup has evolved significantly in its structure. After three years of a round-robin format without a final, the competition shifted to a knockout system in 2006. Recent years have seen experimentation with the format; the 2024 edition utilised a second group stage to identify finalists, but the FES reverted to a standard knockout path for the 2025 season, featuring a single round-robin group stage followed by two-legged quarterfinals and semifinals. The field of participants fluctuates, with the current 2026 edition featuring eight clubs including Audax São Mateus, Porto Vitória, and Rio Branco-VN.

The primary incentive for clubs is qualification for national tournaments. The winner secures a place in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D and the Copa Verde. While the runner-up traditionally qualified for the Copa do Brasil, recent regulatory adjustments have shifted that specific berth to the Campeonato Capixaba runner-up, though the cup winner’s access to the national cup remains subject to ongoing change. Historically, Vitória FC and Real Noroeste FC share the record with four titles each, while Rio Branco VN claimed the most recent honour in 2026.