The first season of the Brazilian version of the music competition show X Factor premiered on Monday, August 29, 2016 at 10:30 p.m. (BRT/AMT) on Band, with reruns airing the following day at 8:30/7:30 p.m. (BRT/AMT) on TNT.

Based on the UK format, the competition consists of auditions, in front of producers and then the judges with a live audience; boot camp; four-chair challenge and then the live finals.

The original judging panel consisted of Rick Bonadio, Alinne Rosa, Di Ferrero and Paulo Miklos, with Fernanda Paes Leme as main host and Mauricio Meirelles as social media correspondent.^[1]

An early preview of X Factor aired following Band's broadcast of the season finale of the third season of MasterChef on August 24, 2016.

Selection process

Season 1 judges

Rick Bonadio

Alinne Rosa

Di Ferrero

Paulo Miklos

Auditions

Open auditions in front of the show's producers took place at the Arena Corinthians, São Paulo from July 9 to July 10, 2016.

Band network reported that over 30,000 people auditioned for the show.

Judges' auditions

Judges' auditions took place at the Dom Bosco Theatre on Colégio Salesiano Santa Teresinha, São Paulo from July 25 to July 29, 2016.

Bootcamp

Four-chair challenge

Key

  – Contestant was immediately eliminated after performance without switch

  – Contestant was switched out later in the competition and eventually eliminated

  – Contestant was not switched out and made the final four of their own category

Contestants The top 16 contestants were confirmed as follows:

Key

  – Winner

  – Runner-up

  – Third place

Live shows

Results summary

Key

  – Contestant did not perform

  – Contestant was chosen as the bottom four by their mentor and had to sing again in the final showdown

  – Contestant was in the bottom three and had to sing again in the final showdown

  – Contestant was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated

  – Contestant received the fewest public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown)

  – Contestant received the most public votes

Live show details

Week 1

October 24

• Theme: Judges' choice
• Group performance: "Can't Stop the Feeling!"

• Each mentor selected one finalist from their own category to advance. The bottom four acts performed another song of their choice in a final showdown and the public was required to save one of them based on the performance.

October 26

• Theme: Judges' choice

• Each mentor selected one finalist from their own category to advance. The bottom four acts performed another song of their choice in a final showdown and the public was required to save one of them based on the performance.

Week 2

October 31

• Theme: Halloween
• Group performance: "Sympathy for the Devil"
• Musical guest: Paula Fernandes ("Pra Você" / "Olhos do Céu") and NX Zero ("Modo Avião")

Judges' votes to eliminate

• Miklos: Diego Martins – backed his own act, Valter Jr. & Vinicius
• Ferrero: Valter Jr. & Vinicius – backed his own act, Diego Martins
• Rosa: Valter Jr. & Vinicius – based on the final showdown performances
• Bonadio: Diego Martins – said that Valter Jr. & Vinicius had more potential

With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result was deadlocked and reverted to the earlier public vote. Valter Jr. & Vinicius were eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.

Week 3

November 7

• Theme: Retro
• Group performance: "Whisky a Go Go"
• Musical guests:
  • Monday: Il Volo ("'O sole mio" (shown on TV) / "Nessun dorma" (online only)) – (pre-recorded on October 31)
  • Wednesday: Anitta ("Sim ou Não" / "Bang" / "Essa Mina É Louca") and Alinne Rosa ("País da Fantasia")

Judges' votes to eliminate

• Rosa: Naomi Dominguez – gave no reason
• Miklos: Naomi Dominguez – based on the final showdown performances
• Bonadio: Heloá Holanda – based on the final showdown performances
• Ferrero: Naomi Dominguez – gave no reason

Week 4

November 14

• Theme: Movies & Greatest hits
• Group performance: "Lady Marmalade" / "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" / "Your Song"
• Musical guest: Karol Conka ("Tombei" / "Maracutaia" / "É o Poder") and Paulo Miklos ("Sangue Latino")

Judges' votes to eliminate

• Bonadio: Jenni Mosello – based on the final showdown performances
• Ferrero: Heloá Holanda – based on the final showdown performances
• Miklos: Jenni Mosello – gave no reason
• Rosa: Heloá Holanda – would not eliminate either of her acts so chose to put it to public vote by equalising the votes

With the acts in the final showdown receiving two votes each, the result was deadlocked and reverted to the earlier public vote. Heloá Holanda was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.

Week 5: Final

November 21

• Theme: Judges' choice & Contestant's choice

Judges' votes to eliminate

• Miklos: Conrado Bragança – backed his own act, Ravena
• Ferrero: Ravena – backed his own act, Conrado Bragança
• Bonadio: Conrado Bragança – gave no reason
• Rosa: Conrado Bragança – gave no reason

November 23

• Theme: Contestant's choice & Winner's song (billed as "song to win")
• Group performance: "Viva la Vida" (Top 10 finalists)
• Musical guests: Ludmilla ("Sou Eu" / "Bom"), Tiago Iorc ("Amei Te Ver"), Jota Quest ("Blecaute" / "Um Dia Pra Não Se Esquecer")

Following the announcement that Clark had won, he performed "Kiss".

Ratings and reception

Brazilian ratings

All numbers are in points and provided by IBOPE.

• In 2016, each point represents 69.417 households in São Paulo.