World election calendar for 2026

A number of important elections are scheduled around the world in 2026. For example, in January, there will be presidential elections in Portugal, presidential and parliamentary elections in Benin, general elections in Uganda, elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in Pakistan, and presidential primaries in Ghana. The midterm elections in the United States (November) will be important, covering the House of Representatives, the Senate, as well as regional and local elections across the country.

In general, presidents will be elected in 19 countries. Legislative elections in 2026 are planned to be held in 37 countries. In 11 countries, the change of power(president and legislature) will take place simultaneously.

Ukraine is also being encouraged to hold elections, but, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized, the possibility of holding them depends entirely on the security situation.

According to Anatoliy Boyko, head of the Odesa regional organization of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, there is no legal possibility of holding parliamentary or local elections during martial law, while presidential elections are "theoretically possible," although they are unlikely to be fully compliant with all the norms and principles of electoral law:

"We will get an election without a choice: Zelensky's election," Anatoliy Boyko believes.

But, according to him, if the fighting in the country continues for at least another six months, presidential elections will have to be held during the war: this will help to avoid an illegal change of power.

The political scientist emphasized that the ideal option for Ukraine would be to end the fighting in the first half of 2026 in order to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in the second half.

All this makes 2026 one of the key political years.

Intent has traditionally collected information for you about where, when and what authorities are being elected. The list may be updated throughout the year.

Key elections in 2026

January

January 11: Benin (parliamentary), Myanmar (parliamentary, 2nd round).

January 12: Uganda (presidential and parliamentary).

January 18: Portugal (presidential).

January 24: Pakistan (elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly).

January 31: Ghana (presidential primaries)

April

April 4: Maldives (Elections to local councils and the World Democratic Committee).

April 12: Benin (presidential), Peru (general).

April 25: Palestine (local).

April (exact date unknown): Hungary (parliamentary).

June

June 3: Republic of Korea (National simultaneous local elections)

June 7: Armenia (parliamentary).

September

September 20 Russia (legislative elections).

November

November 2, 2026 - January 31, 2027: South Africa (municipal).

November 3: USA (midterm elections, House of Representatives, Senate and others).

November 28: Taiwan (local).

Володимир Шкаєв