# When is the Spanish general election?

*The campaign runs from Friday, November 13, to Friday, November 27, and the new Congress and Senate are due to meet for the first time on December 23, 2026.*

- Type: News
- Section: World
- By: World Desk
- Published: 2026-11-12T01:09:30-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T01:09:30-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/world/when-is-the-spanish-general-election/

## Key facts

- The Spanish general election is on Sunday, November 29, 2026, when voters elect both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. Source: [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742). Confirmed 2026-11-12T01:08:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/when-is-the-spanish-general-election/#the-spanish-general-election-is-on-sunday-november-29-2026
- Royal Decree 806/2026 of October 5, 2026, dissolved the Congress and Senate elected on July 23, 2023, and called the election. Source: [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742). Confirmed 2026-11-12T01:08:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/when-is-the-spanish-general-election/#royal-decree-806-2026-of-october-5-2026-dissolved-the
- The election campaign lasts 15 days, from midnight at the start of Friday, November 13, to midnight at the end of Friday, November 27, 2026. Source: [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742). Confirmed 2026-11-12T01:08:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/when-is-the-spanish-general-election/#the-election-campaign-lasts-15-days-from-midnight-at-the
- The newly elected Congress and Senate are due to hold their opening sessions on December 23, 2026, at 10 a.m. Source: [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742). Confirmed 2026-11-12T01:08:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/when-is-the-spanish-general-election/#the-newly-elected-congress-and-senate-are-due-to-hold-their
- Voters living in Spain can request a postal vote until November 19, 2026, and the provincial electoral boards hold the official count from December 4 to 7. Source: [Junta Electoral Central](https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/documentos/eg2026_calendario.pdf). Confirmed 2026-11-12T01:08:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/when-is-the-spanish-general-election/#voters-living-in-spain-can-request-a-postal-vote-until

The Spanish general election is on Sunday, November 29, 2026, the date set by [Royal Decree 806/2026](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742), which was published in Spain's official state gazette on October 6, 2026. The decree dissolved the Congress of Deputies and the Senate that were elected on July 23, 2023, and called an election for both chambers.

## Key dates

The decree sets the election day, the campaign and the first meeting of the new parliament. The other dates come from the [election calendar](https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/documentos/eg2026_calendario.pdf) published by the Junta Electoral Central.

| Step | Date (2026) |
| --- | --- |
| Decree published and in force | October 6 |
| Postal vote requests, voters in Spain | October 6 to November 19 |
| Voters in Spain send postal ballots | November 10 to November 25 |
| Campaign | November 13 to November 27 |
| Voters abroad deposit ballots at consulates | November 21 to November 26 |
| Election day | Sunday, November 29 |
| Official count by provincial electoral boards | December 4 to December 7 |
| New Congress and Senate first meet | December 23, 10 a.m. |

## How the election was called

The [decree](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742) is signed by King Felipe VI and countersigned by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and it took effect on the day it was published, October 6. The Junta Electoral Central lists the vote as its [election in progress](https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/eleccionesEnCurso/Elecciones_generales_2026) and cites the same decree.

## What voters elect

Voters choose both chambers of the Cortes Generales, the Spanish parliament. The [decree](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742) gives the number of deputies for each constituency in an annex; Madrid elects 38 and Barcelona elects 32, the two largest totals, while Ceuta and Melilla elect 1 each.

For the Senate, the same decree says each provincial constituency elects four senators. Among the island constituencies, Gran Canaria, Mallorca and Tenerife elect three each, and Ibiza, Formentera, Menorca, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma elect one each. Ceuta and Melilla elect two each.

## When the campaign runs

The campaign lasts 15 days. The [decree](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742) starts it at midnight as Friday, November 13, begins and ends it at midnight at the close of Friday, November 27, two days before the vote on Sunday, November 29.

## What happens after the vote

The provincial electoral boards hold the official count from December 4 to December 7, according to the [election calendar](https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/documentos/eg2026_calendario.pdf). The [decree](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742) then calls the new Congress and Senate to their opening sessions on December 23, 2026, at 10 a.m.

This page will be updated at this address with the official result after the vote on November 29.

## Sources

1. [Real Decreto 806/2026, de 5 de octubre, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742), Boletín Oficial del Estado, 2026-10-06 (primary source)
2. [Elecciones Generales, 29 de noviembre de 2026: calendario electoral](https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/documentos/eg2026_calendario.pdf), Junta Electoral Central, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
3. [Elección en curso: Elecciones Generales, 29 de noviembre de 2026](https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/eleccionesEnCurso/Elecciones_generales_2026), Junta Electoral Central, 2026-11-12 (primary source)