2026 Knesset Elections: Key Dates Until Election Day

Formation of Party Lists

The Democratic Party primaries—the party is a union of Labor and Meretz led by Yair Golan—were held digitally on July 20. In Likud, voting was held on August 17, with approximately 76,000 party members participating, and Eli Cohen placed first on the national list. In the other major parties, the composition of the lists was determined through internal party mechanisms rather than open primaries.

Submission of Final Lists

The final candidate lists must be submitted to the Central Elections Committee at the Knesset building on September 9 and 10. Until then, parties may still form alliances and technical blocs or change their slate of candidates. Once submissions close, the parties and candidates participating in the election will be finalized.

Voting and Campaigning in October

Beginning October 6, voter notices will be sent to citizens eligible to vote. Official election campaigning on television and radio will begin on October 13, and voting at Israeli diplomatic missions abroad and aboard ships will begin on October 15. The deadline for submitting notice of vote-surplus agreements between lists is October 16.

Polls, Election Day, and Results

October 23 was set as the final day for publishing updated election polls; the source states that from midnight on October 24, publishing polls will be prohibited until the polls close. Voting will take place on October 27, 2026, which will be a nationwide public holiday. After the polls close, vote counting will begin, including double envelopes and ballots cast abroad; the final results are expected to be certified and published on November 4.

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