France Local Elections (2026)

France Local Elections (2026) are the local elections held on 15 March and 22 March 2026 in two rounds to determine mayors and municipal council members across the country.

Voting in the first round of local elections in France, 15 March 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)

Election System and Process

In France, local elections are conducted under a two-round majority system. If a list receives more than 50 percent of the valid votes in the first round, the election is decided immediately. In municipalities where this majority is not achieved, the election proceeds to a second round.

In the 2026 local elections, voting took place in approximately 35,000 municipalities to elect mayors and municipal council members. The majority of elections, particularly in smaller settlements, were concluded in the first round. In contrast, in large cities representing a significant portion of the population, elections went to a second round.

A 2025 reform introduced the list system and gender quotas in municipalities with a population under 1,000.

General Political Landscape and Summary of Election Results

The first round of the 2026 local elections in France, conducted under the two-round system, took place on 15 March, and the second round on 22 March 2026. Voter turnout was approximately 57 percent in both rounds.

Approximately 35,000 municipalities elected municipal council members and mayors. In about 96 percent of municipalities, results were finalized in the first round. In major cities including the capital Paris, Marseille, Lille, Bordeaux and Strasbourg, elections were decided in the second round.

The election results reflected the fragmented nature of France’s political landscape. In large cities, candidates supported by left and center-left coalitions emerged as leaders<span style