Israel Sets Key Dates for October 27, 2026 Knesset Elections

Israel's 26th Knesset elections are scheduled for October 27, 2026, with the election campaign entering its final stages following the completion of party primaries. The Democratic Union of Labor and Meretz held digital primaries on July 20, while the Likud party conducted in-person primaries on August 17, where Eli Cohen secured the top spot on the national list. Other major parties, including Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, and United Torah Judaism, finalized their candidate lists through internal party mechanisms rather than open primaries.

The deadline for submitting final candidate lists to the Central Elections Committee is September 9-10, marking the last opportunity for political alliances, mergers, and list adjustments. The official election period began on July 17, 2026, with the dissolution of the 25th Knesset, and by July 19, senior public officials had to resign to run in the elections.

In October, the election process intensifies: voter notifications will be sent starting October 6, official campaign broadcasts will begin on October 13, and overseas voting at Israeli diplomatic missions and on ships opens on October 15. October 16 is the deadline for submitting surplus vote agreements between parties. Election polls can be published until October 23, after which a blackout on poll publication will be enforced until polls close on election day.

Election day on October 27 will be a national holiday, with polling stations open across Israel. Vote counting, including absentee ballots and overseas votes, will follow, with official results expected by November 4, 2026.