2026 elections in the European Union

The 2026 elections in the European Union include national and regional elections in the EU member states. Five of the twenty-seven member states (Slovenia, Hungary, Sweden, Latvia, and Denmark) are set to elect new parliaments in 2026. Three (Portugal, Estonia, and Bulgaria) will elect presidents.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

2026 elections in the European Union

National elections

Parliamentary elections

Hungary's parliamentary election has received international focus as prime minister Viktor Orbán and his national conservative Fidesz party are facing a strong challenge from Péter Magyar and the more moderate Tisza Party. Orbán has received criticism from the European Parliament as multiple research organizations have described the country as being in a state of democratic backsliding.

<table><thead><tr><th>Member state</th><th>Election</th><th>Parliament before</th><th>Head of Government before</th><th>Party</th><th>EU Party</th><th>Parliament after</th><th>Head of Government after</th><th>Party</th><th>EU Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Slovenia</td><td>22 March</td><td></td><td>Robert Golob</td><td></td><td>Svoboda</td><td></td><td>ALDE</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Denmark</td><td>24 March</td><td></td><td>Mette Frederiksen</td><td></td><td>Social Democrats</td><td></td><td>PES</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hungary</td><td>12 April</td><td></td><td>Viktor Orbán</td><td></td><td>Fidesz</td><td></td><td>Patriots</td></tr><tr><td>Bulgaria</td><td>19 April</td><td></td><td>Andrey Gyurov (Caretaker)</td><td></td><td>Ind.</td><td></td><td>Ind.</td></tr><tr><td>Sweden</td><td>13 September</td><td></td><td>Ulf Kristersson</td><td></td><td>Moderate</td><td></td><td>EPP</td></tr><tr><td>Latvia</td><td>By 3 October</td><td></td><td>Evika Siliņa</td><td></td><td>Unity</td><td></td><td>EPP</td></tr><tr><td>Czech Republic (senate only)</td><td>9–10 October</td><td></td><td>Andrej Babis</td><td></td><td>ANO</td><td></td><td>Patriots</td></tr></tbody></table>

Some parts in France will also hold Senate election.

By-elections

• Italy, Chamber of Deputies: 2026 Italian by-elections, 22–23 March • Ireland, Dáil Éireann: 2026 Galway West by-election, 2026 Dublin Central by-election

Legislative elections in presidential states

Cyprus is notably the only EU member state with a strong presidential system where the president serves as both head of government and head of state. As a result the Cypriot legislature does not elect a prime minister, and instead, its members select the President of the Cypriot House of Representatives to head the body.

<table><thead><tr><th>Member state</th><th>Election</th><th>Legislature before</th><th>Head of Legislature before</th><th>Party</th><th>EU Party</th><th>Parliament after</th><th>Head of Legislature after</th><th>Party</th><th>EU Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Cyprus</td><td>24 May</td><td></td><td>Annita Demetriou</td><td></td><td>DISY</td><td></td><td>EPP</td></tr></tbody></table>

Presidential elections in parliamentary states

Portugal and Bulgaria directly elect their presidents, while the president of Estonia is elected indirectly by the Riigikogu.. Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Bulgarian president Rumen Radev have each been elected twice and are constitutionally ineligible to serve third terms. Incumbent Estonian president Alar Karis is eligible for reelection, but has indicated that he is unlikely to do so and would like to see the office's electoral process reformed.

<table><thead><tr><th>State</th><th>Date</th><th>President before</th><th>Party</th><th>EU Party</th><th>President after</th><th>Party</th><th>EU Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Portugal</td><td>18 January 8 February</td><td>Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa</td><td></td><td>PSD</td><td></td><td>EPP</td><td>António José Seguro</td><td></td><td>PS</td><td></td><td>PES</td></tr><tr><td>Estonia</td><td>2 September</td><td>Alar Karis</td><td></td><td>Ind.</td><td></td><td>Ind.</td></tr><tr><td>Bulgaria</td><td>November</td><td>Iliana Iotova</td><td></td><td>BSP</td><td></td><td>PES</td></tr></tbody></table>

Referendums

2026 elections in the European Union

• 2026 Italian constitutional referendum, 22–23 March

Local elections

France

• 2026 French municipal elections, 15 and 22 March

Germany

• 2026 Baden-Württemberg state election, 8 March • 2026 Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 22 March • 2026 Saxony-Anhalt state election, 6 September • 2026 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election, 20 September

Netherlands

• 2026 Dutch municipal elections, 18 March

Spain

• 2026 Aragonese regional election 8 February • 2026 Castilian-Leonese regional election, 15 March • 2026 Andalusian regional election, 30 June