2026 elections in the European Union

2026 elections in the European Union
2026
Parliamentary elections
Parliamentary elections in member states
     Parliamentary election
     No election
Presidential elections
Presidential elections in member states
     Presidential election
     No election

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.[1]

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.[2] Orbán has received criticism from the European Parliament[3] as multiple research organizations have described the country as being in a state of democratic backsliding.[4][5]

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

Some parts in France are also held Senate election.

By-elections

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.[6] 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.

Member state Election Legislature before Head of Legislature before Party EU Party Parliament after Head of Legislature after Party EU Party
Cyprus 24 May Annita Demetriou DISY EPP

Presidential elections in parliamentary states

Portugal and Bulgaria directly elect their presidents, while the president of Estonia is elected indirectly by the Riigikogu.[7]. Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Bulgarian president Rumen Radev have each been elected twice and are constitutionally ineligible to serve third terms.[8][9] 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.[10]

State Date President before Party EU Party President after Party EU Party
Portugal 18 January
8 February 		Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa PSD EPP António José Seguro PS PES
Estonia 2 September Alar Karis Ind. Ind.
Bulgaria November Iliana Iotova BSP PES

Local elections

France

Germany

Netherlands

Spain

References

  1. ^ "elections calendar 2024-2029" (PDF). cor.europa.eu. European Union. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Hungary's election could change Europe". economist.com.
  3. ^ De La Feld, Simone. "EU Parliament calls for sanctions against Orbán: Hungary has turned into "electoral autocracy"". Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Hungary and the future of Europe". European Consortium for Political Research. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  5. ^ Anghel, Jones, Veronica, Erik. "restricted access What Went Wrong In Hungary". Journal of Democracy. 35. Retrieved 27 November 2025.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Cyprus". europa.eu. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Riigikogu looks at potential candidates for Estonia's next president". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). 15 March 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Freedom in the World 2024 Portugal". freedomhouse. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Freedom in the World 2024 Bulgaria". freedomhouse. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  10. ^ "President: It would take a small miracle to convince me to run for a second term". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR).
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