Africa-Press – Namibia. 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 global population.
The outcomes will influence domestic policies, economic strategies, and global alliances.
Below is a month-by-month look at the key elections to watch for, along with their political consequences.
January: Myanmar – general elections (11 January) – second phase), (25 January) – third phase), Uganda – general elections (15 January), Portugal – presidential elections (18 January)
February: Costa Rica – general elections (1 February), Thailand – general elections (8 February), Bangladesh – general elections (12 February)
Bangladesh will hold its first national vote since a student-led uprising ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule in 2024. Voters will also decide on the “July Charter”, a reform plan limiting executive power, strengthening the judiciary, and insulating law enforcement from political interference.
Laos – parliamentary elections (22 February)
March: Nepal – general elections (5 March)
Nepal’s upcoming elections are shaped by the September 2025 Gen Z-led protests that toppled prime minister 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’s future.
Vietnam – parliamentary elections (15 March)
Slovenia – parliamentary elections (Expected on 22 March)
Republic of the Congo – presidential elections (22 March)
April: Benin – presidential elections (12 April), Hungary – parliamentary elections (expected on 12 April)
Hungary’s 2026 election will shape both its domestic politics and international alliances. Prime minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Russia who has accused the European Union (EU) of warmongering over the Russia-Ukraine war, faces his toughest challenge since his election in 2010 from rival Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party.
The result will decide Hungary’s political balance and its stance between the EU and Russia, with wider implications for European stability and the war in Ukraine.
Peru – general elections (12 April), Libya – presidential and parliamentary elections (expected in April), Djibouti – presidential elections (must be held by April), Cape Verde – parliamentary (expected in April)
May: Cyprus – parliamentary elections (24 May), Colombia – presidential elections (31 May)
Colombians will vote for a new president as incumbent Gustavo Petro’s term will end and he cannot run for re-election.
Ivan Cepeda of Petro’s Historic Pact faces centrist Sergio Fajardo and right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella.
The election will determine whether Colombia can advance stalled Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia peace agreements, tackle corruption, manage rising violence, and navigate the regional challenges posed by neighbouring Venezuela, making it crucial for the country’s stability and its relationship with the United States (US).
Cameroon – parliamentary elections (must be held by May)
Lebanon – parliamentary elections (expected in May)
Lebanon’s May election will represent the first major democratic test for the government of prime minister Nawaf Salam and president Joseph Aoun.
Hezbollah’s role will be one of the major factors in Lebanon’s 2026 elections, as the vote will decide its political influence, impact the debate over disarmament, and shape the country’s sectarian balance amid economic turmoil.
June: Ethiopia – general elections (1 June), Armenia – parliamentary elections (7 June), Algeria – parliamentary elections (must be held by June)
July: Fiji – general elections (expected between June to February 2027)
August: Zambia – general elections (13 August), Haiti – general elections (30 August)
September: Sweden – general elections (13 September), Sao Tome and Principe – parliamentary elections (must be held by September), Morocco – parliamentary elections (expected in September), Russia – parliamentary elections (expected in September)
October: Latvia – parliamentary elections (3 October), Brazil – general elections (4 October).
In October, Brazilians will vote for president, congress, and state governments amid economic uncertainty, rising violent crime, and tense relations with the US. Incumbent president Lula da Silva is seeking re-election and will face challengers, including Flavio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The results could reshape Brazil’s ties with the US, steer its domestic economic and security trajectory, and mark this as one of Latin America’s most consequential elections.
Israel – parliamentary elections (scheduled for 27 October but will likely happen earlier)
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, enters 2026 facing a historic battle for political survival.
While the legal deadline for elections is 27 October, Netanyahu could trigger a snap election as early as June. His Likud party faces mounting pressure domestically over intelligence failures and its response to the 7 October 2023, attack and internationally over its genocidal war in Gaza.
Denmark – general elections (must be held by 31 October)
Bosnia and Herzegovina – general elections (expected in October)
The Bahamas – general elections (must be held by October)
November: US – midterm elections (3 November).
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 US.
The results will significantly influence the amount of power that Donald Trump can wield for the remainder of his term.
Bulgaria – presidential and parliamentary elections (expected in November)
December: The Gambia – presidential elections (5 December), New Zealand – general elections (must be held by 19 December), South Sudan – general elections (expected on 22 December)
– Al Jazeera
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