Israeli Elections Set for October 27, 2026, Confirming Full Knesset Term

The Israeli coalition officially announced in the Knesset committee that the 26th Knesset elections will be held on October 27, 2026, maintaining the original schedule. This marks a significant political achievement as the 25th Knesset completes a full term despite numerous national, political, and diplomatic crises. It is the first Knesset to serve a full term in 38 years and the first government to do so in 53 years. The election date was formally incorporated into the Political Parties Financing Law during committee discussions.

The next phase of the election process begins on July 17, when the Knesset will be officially dissolved, and the government will transition into a caretaker status. During this election period, no new legislation can be advanced except for broadly agreed-upon laws, urgent regulations, or necessary security measures. The Central Elections Committee, led by Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, will oversee the elections. Following the departure of long-serving CEO Orly Adas, attorney Din Livneh is acting as interim CEO and is spearheading preparations.

Livneh revealed plans to increase transparency by potentially broadcasting live vote counts at polling stations to boost public trust. The deadline for party list submissions is set for September 7, about 50 days before the election, as requested by Livneh. The announcement concludes a turbulent Knesset term marked by intense public protests against judicial reforms, the October 7 massacre, ongoing hostage crises, and a nearly three-year-long war.

Political campaigns have already begun. Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, responded to the election date announcement by declaring, "On October 27, we will win. We will replace the October 7 massacre government, establish a Zionist and national government, and restore the country."