Archive January 1, 2026

EXPLAINER

In 2026, there will be national elections in more than 40 nations, each with a population of 1.6 billion people.

Nearly one-fifth of the world’s population will be influenced by these elections, including general, presidential, and parliamentary elections. The outcomes will affect global alliances, economic strategies, and domestic policies.

What are the key elections to watch for each month, along with their political implications, are provided below.

January

Myanmar: Second phase of the general elections held on January 11 and third phase on January 25.
• Ugandan elections on January 15th.
• Portugal‘s 18th January presidential elections

February

Elections for the president of Costa Rica on February 1st.
• Thailand‘s upcoming general elections (8 February)
• Bangladesh – February 12 elections general

Bangladesh will hold its first national election since Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule was ended in 2024 by a student-led uprising. Voters will also vote on the “July Charter,” a reform strategy that limits the scope of the executive branch, strengthens the judiciary, and shields law enforcement from political interference.

Laos parliamentary elections on February 22

March

Elections in Nepal’s general (March 5)

The Gen Z-led protests that suffocated Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli over corruption and economic unrest served as inspiration for the upcoming elections. Many of the protesters have been organizing for voter registration, highlighting how young Nepalese people now have a real chance to influence politics and shape the country’s future.

Vietnam parliamentary elections (15 March)
• Slovenian elections are scheduled for March 22.
• Elections for President in the Republic of the Congo on March 22

April

Elections for President in Benin on April 12th.
• Hungary parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 12 (see below).

Hungary’s domestic politics and international alliances will be influenced by the election of 2026. Viktor Orban, a close ally of Russia and ally of the EU, is facing his toughest challenge since winning the Tisza Party’s election in 2010 against Peter Magyar. He has accused the EU of warming up over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With broader implications for European stability and the conflict in Ukraine, the outcome will determine Hungary’s political balance and its position on Russia.

Elections in Peru’s general assembly on April 12th.
• Libyan elections are scheduled for April.
• Djibouti – Elections for president (must be held by April)
• Parliamentary Cape Verde (Established in April)

May

Elections in Cyprus on May 24
• Colombian presidential elections on May 31

As Gustavo Petro’s term ends and he is unable to seek re-election, Colombians will elect a new president. Sergio Fajardo and Abelardo de la Espriella, both of Petro’s Historic Pact, square off against Ivan Cepeda of Petro’s Historic Pact. Colombia’s ability to advance stalled FARC peace agreements, combat corruption, manage rising violence, and navigate regional challenges posed by neighboring Venezuela will depend on the outcome of the election, which will be crucial for the country’s stability and relationship with the US.

Parliamentary elections in Cameroon must be held by May.
• Elections in Lebanon (expected in May)

The government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun will face their first significant democratic test in May. In light of the country’s economic turmoil, the role of Hezbollah will be one of its key factors in the 2026 elections in Lebanon, which will determine its political influence, influence the disarmament debate, and influence the country’s sectarian balance.

June

Elections in Ethiopia (June 1): General Elections
• Elections in Armenia (June 7):
• Algerian elections (must be held by June)

July

Fiji – General elections scheduled for June 2026 to February 2027.

August

Elections in Zambia’s capital on August 13th.
• Haiti general elections (30 August)

September

Sweden’s 13th September general elections
• Parliamentary elections in Sao Tome and Principe (must be held by September)
• Morocco parliamentary elections are scheduled for September.
• Russian elections are scheduled for September.

October

Latvian elections in October (3. ):
• Brazil – Fourth annual general election

Brazilians will cast ballots for president, congress, and state governments in October as a result of growing economic uncertainty, increased violent crime, and tense American relations. Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, will face opposition from incumbent president Lula, who is running for president. The outcomes could reshape Brazil’s relationship with the US, guide its domestic economic and security trajectory, and make this one of Latin America’s most significant elections.

Israel parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 27 but are likely to occur sooner.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister with the longest tenure, will face a historic battle to survive in 2026. Netanyahu may hold a snap election as early as June even though the legal deadline for elections is October 27. The Likud party of Netanyahu is increasingly under fire both domestically and internationally for its involvement in the genocidal war in Gaza.

Denmark: Elections for the general election (must be held by October 31)
• Elections for the Bosnia and Herzegovina general elections are scheduled for October.
• Elections for the Bahamas’ president (must be held by October)

November

United States – Midterm elections on November 3rd.

In the upcoming US midterm elections, all 435 House seats and 35 out of 100 Senate seats will be up for grabs. These elections have significant implications for American governance, as they will determine who will control Congress. Donald Trump’s ability to wield significant power for the remainder of his presidency will depend greatly on the outcomes.

Bulgarian elections are scheduled for November.

December

Elections for President in The Gambia on December 5th.
• New Zealand elections must be held by December 19 for general elections.
• South Sudan: General elections are scheduled for December 22.

Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office on Thursday, becoming the first Quran-using mayor of New York City.

Mamdani, the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of the nation’s largest metropolis, sworn in at a private swearing-in ceremony held at a decaying subway station beneath Times Square using his grandfather’s Quran and a 200-year-old copy on loan from the New York Public Library (NYPL).

He intends to hold a Friday ceremony at New York City Hall in addition to two copies of the Quran that his grandfather and grandmother owned.

Arturo Schomburg, a Black historian and author who sold his collection of 4, 000 books to the NYPL in 1926, once owned the historic Quran, which was borrowed from the library. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture was based on his research.

In 1870, Schomburg was the child of German and Afro-Caribbean parents. In the 1920s and 1930s, a period of intense cultural and intellectual flourishing in New York’s Black community, he was a key player in the Harlem Renaissance.

Because of its association with one of New York’s “most groundbreaking scholars and for its simple, functional qualities,” Mamdani chose Schomburg’s Quran, which the library praised.

According to the library, the Quran’s small size and black and red ink suggest that it was made for daily use. The library added that the edition’s “minute naskh script and binding, which feature a gilt-stamped medallion filled with a floral composition, suggest it was produced in Ottoman Syria in the 19th century.”

Hiba Abid, the curator of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, said, “The significance of this Quran extends far beyond the beauty of its pages.” It is regarded as a sacred book by the populace because of its originality and inclusion in the nation’s largest public library system.

The association with Schomburg and the Quran, according to Anthony W. Marx, president and CEO of the library, “symbolises a greater story of inclusion, representation, and civic-mindedness.”

One of the few US politicians to sworn in with the Quran is Mamdani. Although many former mayors have used a copy of the Bible, New York does not require mayors to take the oath of office with their hands on a religious text.

In a ceremony, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg used a 100-year-old family Bible, and Mayor Bill de Blasio used a Bible that was once owned by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mayor Eric Adams, who took the oath, also used a family Bible.

During his campaign, which focused on highlighting the diversity of New York, Mamdani’s faith and background as an American of South Asian descent from Uganda were at the forefront.

Mamdani also addressed the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11 and the rise in Islamophobia in the US in open conversation in viral social media videos. Other videos covered the experiences of regular New Yorkers, including many of its Muslim and immigrant communities.

Mamdani has also made a strong critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and its Gaza-based genocidal war.

As a Democratic Socialist, critics like New York Representative Elise Stefanik criticized Mamdani’s background and left-wing politics, branding him a “jihadist Communist” and “terrorist” sympathiser.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to make China and Taiwan’s “reunification,” as well as calling Beijing’s long-achieved goal “unstoppable.”

On Wednesday, Xi invoked the “bond of blood and kinship” between Chinese citizens on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in a speech delivered the following day China’s military was wrapping up its war games around Taiwan.

Xi remarked, “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the time, is unstoppable.”

Xi also praised the annual “Taiwan Recovery Day,” which commemorates the end of Japanese imperial rule on the island at the end of World War II, in 2025.

Following two days of live-fire drills that simulated a blockade of the island, Xi’s speech was followed by what officials called a “stern warning” against “separatist” and “external interference” forces.

In terms of area, the drills were the largest ever conducted in Taiwan.

Just days after the United States approved its largest-ever arms package to Taiwan, valued at $11.1 billion, the war games, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” were held in the United States.

Taiwan is viewed as a part of its territory by China, which has long pledged to retake control of it using force if necessary.

Taiwan’s government, which is currently in power, maintains that the island is de facto independent, despite the fact that it has, not, informally, declared, andnbsp, independence.

Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te made the pledge in his Thursday New Year’s Day address to “firmly” uphold national sovereignty and strengthen the island’s defenses.

The international community is closely monitoring Taiwan’s people’s resolve to defend themselves in the face of China’s growing expansionist ambitions, Lai said.

Taiwan is officially recognized by only 11 nations, including Vatican City, while its leaders are elected and have their own military, passport, and currency.

In order to maintain diplomatic ties with Beijing, China demands that other countries do not officially recognize Taipei.

Washington is assisting Taiwan in its defenses under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, despite the US’s official recognition of Taiwan.

Although Washington is Taipei’s main supplier of weapons, the law forbids a direct military response in the event of a Chinese blockade or invasion.

According to opinion polls, Taiwanese are overwhelmingly in favor of the status quo, with much less people in favor of averting a formal unification or independence.

Xi also praised China’s advancements in fields like space and artificial intelligence in his speech on Wednesday.

Through innovation, we sought to energize high-quality development. He claimed that we made a lot of new innovations by integrating science and technology seamlessly with industries.