{"id":7143,"date":"2026-01-01T07:04:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T07:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=7143"},"modified":"2026-01-01T07:04:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T07:04:47","slug":"all-the-big-elections-to-look-out-for-in-2026-elections-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=7143","title":{"rendered":"All the big elections to look out for in 2026 | Elections News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p><span class=\"post-label__text\">EXPLAINER<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><em>From the February vote in Bangladesh to the November US midterms, here is a calendar of key election dates.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>More than 40 countries, representing a combined population of 1.6 billion people, will hold national-level elections in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>These contests, including general, presidential, and parliamentary elections, will shape the governance for nearly one-fifth of the global population. The outcomes will influence domestic policies, economic strategies, and global alliances.<\/p>\n<p>Below is a month-by-month look at the key elections to watch, along with their political consequences.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Elections to look out for in 2026\" aria-label=\"Choropleth map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-NQOhh\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/NQOhh\/14\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width:0;min-width:100% !important;border:none\" height=\"772\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"january\">January<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Myanmar<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (January 11 \u2013 second phase), (January 25 \u2013 third phase)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Uganda<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (January 15)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Portugal<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential elections (January 18)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"february\">February<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Costa Rica<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (February 1)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thailand<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (February 8)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bangladesh<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (February 12)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Bangladesh will hold its first national vote since a student-led uprising ended Sheikh Hasina\u2019s 15-year rule in 2024. Voters will also decide on the \u201cJuly Charter\u201d, a reform plan limiting executive power, strengthening the judiciary, and insulating law enforcement from political interference.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4183742\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4183742\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4183742\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-19T051333Z_2073262918_RC2FJIA7SCZS_RTRMADP_3_BANGLADESH-POLITICS-1766136009.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Supporters chant slogans as they block Shahbagh Square demanding justice, following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader, who was undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot in the head, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 19, 2025 [Mohammad Ponir Hossain\/Reuters]\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4183742\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Supporters chant slogans as they block Shahbagh Square demanding justice, following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader, who was undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot in the head, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 19, 2025 [Mohammad Ponir Hossain\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Laos<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (February 22)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"march\">March<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nepal<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (March 5)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Nepal\u2019s upcoming elections are shaped by the September 2025 Gen Z-led protests that toppled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli over corruption and economic frustration. Many of the protesters have been campaigning for voter registration, highlighting how Nepalese youth now have a real chance to turn their movement into political influence and help shape the country\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vietnam<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (March 15)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slovenia<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Expected on March 22)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Republic of the Congo<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential elections (March 22)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"april\">April<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Benin<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential elections (April 12)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hungary<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Expected on April 12)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Hungary\u2019s 2026 election will shape both its domestic politics and international alliances. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Russia who has accused the EU of warmongering over the Russia-Ukraine war, faces his toughest challenge since his election in 2010 from rival Peter Magyar\u2019s Tisza Party. The result will decide Hungary\u2019s political balance and its stance between the EU and Russia, with wider implications for European stability and the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3766137\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3766137\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-3766137\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/reuters_68483212-1749561874.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrive for a joint news briefing, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 2, 2024. REUTERS\/Valentyn Ogirenko\/File Photo\/File Photo\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3766137\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hungary\u2019s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrive for a joint news briefing, amid Russia\u2019s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 2, 2024 [File: Valentyn Ogirenko\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Peru<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (April 12)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Libya<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential and parliamentary elections (Expected in April)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Djibouti<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential elections (Must be held by April)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cape Verde<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary (Expected in April)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"may\">May<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cyprus<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (May 24)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Colombia<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential elections (May 31)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Colombians will vote for a new president as incumbent Gustavo Petro\u2019s term will end and he cannot run for re-election. Ivan Cepeda of Petro\u2019s Historic Pact faces centrist Sergio Fajardo and right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella. The election will determine whether Colombia can advance stalled FARC peace agreements, tackle corruption, manage rising violence, and navigate the regional challenges posed by neighbouring Venezuela, making it crucial for the country\u2019s stability and its relationship with the United States.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4131426\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4131426\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4131426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AFP__20220807__32G77TA__v2__HighRes__TopshotColombiaInaugurationPetro-1764114746.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C520&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Colombia's new President Gustavo Petro gestures after delivering a speech during his inauguration ceremony at Bolivar Square in Bogota, on August 7, 2022\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4131426\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Colombia\u2019s President Gustavo Petro gestures after delivering a speech during his inauguration ceremony at Bolivar Square in Bogota, on August 7, 2022 [Juan Barreto\/AFP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cameroon<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Must be held by May)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lebanon<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Expected in May)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lebanon\u2019s May election will represent the first major democratic test for the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun. Hezbollah\u2019s role will be one of the major factors in Lebanon\u2019s 2026 elections, as the vote will decide its political influence, impact the debate over disarmament, and shape the country\u2019s sectarian balance amid economic turmoil.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3929978\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3929978\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-3929978\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2025-09-05T123620Z_1354823897_RC2OLGA78D9D_RTRMADP_3_LEBANON-POLITICS-ARMS-1757189428.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and members of the cabinet stand as they attend a cabinet session to discuss the army's plan to disarm Hezbollah, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, September 5, 2025. REUTERS\/Mohamed Azakir\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3929978\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and members of the cabinet stand as they attend a cabinet session to discuss the army\u2019s plan to disarm Hezbollah, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, September 5, 2025 [Mohamed Azakir\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"june\">June<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ethiopia<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (June 1)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Armenia<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (June 7)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Algeria<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Must be held by June)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"july\">July<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fiji<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (Expected between June 2026 to February 2027)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"august\">August<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Zambia<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (August 13)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Haiti<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (August 30)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"september\">September<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sweden<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (September 13)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sao Tome and Principe<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Must be held by September)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Morocco<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Expected in September)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Russia<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Expected in September)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"october\">October<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Latvia<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (October 3)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brazil<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (October 4)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In October, Brazilians will vote for president, Congress, and state governments amid economic uncertainty, rising violent crime, and tense relations with the United States. Incumbent President Lula is seeking re-election and will face challengers, including Flavio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro. The results could reshape Brazil\u2019s ties with the US, steer its domestic economic and security trajectory, and mark this as one of Latin America\u2019s most consequential elections.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3844823\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3844823\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-3844823\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2025-07-11T211756Z_1428578810_RC2DKFAWVEC6_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-TARIFFS-BRAZIL-1752844411.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Lula in a blue baseball cap that reads: Brazil for Brazilians.\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3844823\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brazil\u2019s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wears a cap that reads \u201cBrazil belongs to the Brazilians\u201d as he attends a ceremony to announce the start of payments under the Income Transfer Program for farmers and fishermen, in Linhares, Espirito Santo state, Brazil, July 11, 2025 [Ricardo Stuckert\/Brazilian Presidency\/Handout via Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Israel<\/strong> \u2013 Parliamentary elections (Scheduled for October 27 but will likely happen earlier)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Israel\u2019s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, enters 2026 facing a historic battle for political survival. While the legal deadline for elections is October 27, Netanyahu could trigger a snap election as early as June. Netanyahu\u2019s Likud party faces mounting pressure domestically over intelligence failures and its response to the October 7, 2023, attack and internationally over its genocidal war in Gaza.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3770727\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3770727\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-3770727\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2025-06-11T174534Z_1097312598_RC2H0FAGT260_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-ARGENTINA-KNESSET-1749754055.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Netanyahu\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3770727\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel\u2019s Parliament, in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025 [Ronen Zvulun\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Denmark<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (Must be held by October 31)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (Expected in October)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Bahamas<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (Must be held by October)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"november\">November<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>United States<\/strong> \u2013 Midterm elections (November 3)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All 435 House seats and 35 out of 100 Senate seats are up for grabs in the upcoming US midterms. These elections are pivotal, as they will determine control of Congress and have major implications for governance in the United States. The results will significantly influence the amount of power that Donald Trump can wield for the remainder of his term.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3666152\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3666152\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-3666152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2024-10-11T214418Z_524357971_RC2LIAAC2016_RTRMADP_3_USA-ELECTION-TRUMP-1745508131.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump dances during his rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, U.S., October 11, 2024. REUTERS\/Isaiah J. Downing\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3666152\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dances during his rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, United States, October 11, 2024 [Isaiah J Downing\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bulgaria<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential and parliamentary elections (Expected in November)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"december\">December<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Gambia<\/strong> \u2013 Presidential elections (December 5)<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Zealand<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (Must be held by December 19)<\/li>\n<li><strong>South Sudan<\/strong> \u2013 General elections (Expected on December 22)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXPLAINER From the February vote in Bangladesh to the November US midterms, here is a calendar of key election dates. More than 40 countries, representing a combined population of 1.6 billion people, will hold national-level elections in 2026. These contests, including general, presidential, and parliamentary elections, will shape the governance for nearly one-fifth of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7143"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7143\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}