Israel sets Oct 27 2026 election date

Israel's parliament announced on Sunday, July 12, that the country's next general election will be held on October 27, 2026, the final date permitted by law. The vote will determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the nation's longest-serving leader, secures another term after his current coalition completes a full four-year mandate, a political milestone not achieved since 1988.

The current Knesset, the 25th, is scheduled to conclude its term on July 17, allowing the ruling coalition to serve its full tenure without an early dissolution. In a statement, parliament said that because the legislature is expected to serve its full term and the election date is already set by law, there is no need to enact a formal dissolution bill.

Netanyahu, 76, has declared his intention to run again, stating he "intends to win" what is widely seen as a referendum on his leadership since the outbreak of the Gaza war. He has recently spoken of his goal to form a "broad national government" after the election, rather than one anchored solely to the right or left, a shift some analysts interpret as an attempt to reframe his campaign around national unity.