2026 Nepalese general election


Early general elections are expected to be held in Nepal on 5 March 2026 to elect the 275 members of the House of Representatives as announced on 12 September 2025 by the President of Nepal, on the recommendation of Government of Nepal.
There remains two ballots in the election: one to elect 165 members from single-member constituencies via FPTP, and the other to elect the remaining 110 members from a single nation-wide constituency via party-list proportional representation, as mentioned in the Constitution of Nepal.

Background

On 8 September 2025, large-scale protests and demonstrations took place across Nepal, predominantly organized by students and young citizens. On 12 September 2025, the Federal Parliament of Nepal was dissolved and Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim Prime Minister. President Ram Chandra Poudel announced that elections would be held on 5 March 2026. The elections were scheduled to have taken place any time before November 2027.

Timetable

The key dates are listed below:
6 October 2025Legislature parliament dissolved
6 October 2025Cabinet announces election date
21 November 2025Last date to register to be on electoral roll
26 November 2025Last day for party registration at Election Commission
28 and 29 December 2025Parties submit preliminary closed list for proportional representation
19 January 2026Election code of conduct starts
20 January 2026Candidate nomination for first past the post
23 January 2026Candidate list for first past the post finalized and published
3 February 2026Closed list for proportional representation finalized and published
5 March 2026Election day

Electoral system

The 275 members of the legislature are elected by two methods; 165 are elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting and 110 seats are elected by closed list proportional representation from a single nationwide constituency. Voters receive separate ballot papers for the two methods. A party or electoral alliance has to pass the election threshold of 3% of the overall valid vote to be allocated a seat in the proportional vote. Nepal uses the Webster method to allocate proportional seats.
Voting is limited to Nepali citizens aged 18 or over of sound mind and not having been declared ineligible under federal election fraud and punishment laws. On 27 December 2025, the Election Commission published a final voter list of 18,903,689 voters.

Eligibility to vote

To vote in the general election, one must be:
  • on the electoral roll
  • aged 18 or over on 3rd March
  • a citizen of Nepal
  • of sound mind
  • not ineligible as per federal election fraud and punishment laws

    Pre-election arrangements

Campaign

Nepali Congress

After months of disagreement on electing a new leadership before the election, a majority of party delegates held a special general convention which elected Gagan Thapa as party president. Thapa was also announced as a prime ministerial candidate from the party. Thapa left his hattrick won constituency of Kathmandu 4 and decided to contest the election from Sarlahi 4 to make Terai vote swing towards party. Congress stood as single major party to have candidates in all 165 constituencies.
Several renowned politicians including ex-party president and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, former DPM Purna Bahadur Khadka, and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak did not contest the election.

CPN (UML)

The party held it's 11th general convention on 18 December 2025 and reelcted K. P. Sharma Oli as party chairman. Oli was also declared as a candidate for prime minister from the party. The party as well as RPP candidate withdrew it candidacy from Manang 1 to support Congress candidate Tek Bahadur Gurung as a result of local understanding in presence of Lama monk.
The party agreed to informally support Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party candidates in Western Rukum and Eastern Rukum in exchange for support in most constituencies in Karnali, but did not withdraw their own candidates.

Nepali Communist Party

The party was formed from the merger of CPN, CPN and eight other left-wing groups. Former deputy prime minister Bhim Rawal, Nagarik Unmukti Party and a faction of People's Socialist Party also joined the party.
The party and Rastriya Janamorcha made an alliance for Baglung district. As part of the alliance, the party supported Janamorcha candidate Krishna Adhikari in Baglung 1, and in return, Janamorcha supported NCP candidate Gyamnath Gaire in Baglung 2. Senior leaders from the party, former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal and former deputy prime minsiter Bamdev Gautam decided not to contest the election.

Rastriya Swatantra Party

The party signed an agreement to bring in independent Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah into the party and declared him as the candidate for prime minister from the party. An agreement had also been signed to merge Ujyaalo Nepal Party into the party, but the agreement later collapsed. Bibeksheel Sajha Party merged into the party ahead of the election.
Shah decided to contest the election from Jhapa 5 against CPN chairman and former prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party

The party unified with Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal to strengthen the pro-monarchy vote before the election. The party as well as RPP candidate withdrew it candidacy from Manang 1 to support Congress candidate Tek Bahadur Gurung as a result of local understanding in presence of Lama monk.

People's Socialist Party Nepal

, Terai Madesh Loktantrik Party and Janata Pragatisheel Party merged with the party ahead of the nomination deadline. The party released a 27-point manifesto on 26 January 2026 that called for a restructuring of the electoral and judicial systems, amending the constitution, and strengthening the federal system.

Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party

The party was formed by leaders of CPN that disagreed with the formation of Nepali Communist Party along with Nepal Socialist Party led by former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai and former chief whip of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Santosh Pariyar.
The party agreed to informally support CPN candidates in most constituencies in Karnali in exchange for support for their candidates Janardhan Sharma and Sandeep Pun in Western Rukum and Eastern Rukum. The party also decided to withdraw their candidate in Kalikot and support CPN candidate Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma. Baburam Bhattarai also withdrew his candidacy from Gorkha 2.

Candidates

Parties

The Election Commission called political parties seeking to contest the elections scheduled for 5 March 2026 to be registered within 26 November 2025. 120 political parties registered with the commission to contest the elections. 64 parties submitted closed lists under proportional representation system.

Candidates by Province

Koshi Province

Madhesh Province

Bagmati Province

Gandaki Province

Lumbini Province

Karnali Province

Sudurpashchim Province

2022–25 MPs contesting under a different political affiliation

2022–25 MPs not standing for re-election

;Nepali Congress
;CPN
;Maoist Centre
;NUP
;Unified Socialist
;RPP
;Loktantrik Samajwadi
;PSP-N
;PSP