For the eighth consecutive season, the tournament was in a double round-robin system.
The format used then also specified that the next two best teams in the standings qualify to the First Stage, if the 2011 Copa Sudamericana isn't conquered by a Brazilian club.
Santos, as the winner of the 2010 Copa do Brasil, has an automatic berth to the Second Stage of the competition.
The next eight best teams in the standings earn berths to the Second Stage of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana.
[2] Last season, Coritiba, Santo André, Náutico, and Sport were relegated after finishing in the last four position in the standings.