Spain goes to the polls on 29 November 2026 … new. The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has dissolved the Cortes Generales and called an early general election for Real Decreto 806/2026 The decree was published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado on 6 October 2026 and is therefore in force.
Publication starts the 54-day period set out in the Ley Orgánica del Régimen Electoral General before polling day. The election will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2026. The electoral timetable now sets deadlines for forming coalitions, submitting lists and the official start of the campaign. The individual dates are set by law and have been running since the announcement.
The Dissolution of the Cortes suspends ongoing parliamentary business. Bills that have not been finally passed lapse at the end of the parliamentary term. The caretaker government remains in office until a new parliament is constituted, but operates under the usual restrictions of a transitional period.
The move follows recent setbacks for the government in parliament. Media reports point in particular to failed housing policy proposals. Official statements on the reason focus on the need for a new mandate; detailed political assessments are left to the parties and commentators.
The legal basis for the order is clearly documented: Real Decreto 806/2026 names the dissolution of the Cortes and the calling of the election, while the Boletín Oficial del Estado confirms the date and wording. National media have also confirmed publication of the decree and the date. Predictions about the election result or future coalitions are speculative and are not included here.
The short lead time means the parties must prepare at speed. Election agreements are usually notified and lead candidates formalised within a few days of the election being called. At the same time, the electoral administration updates organisational arrangements for voting at home and abroad. The Ministry of the Interior provides official information on deadlines and procedures as part of the election process.
This report is based on the official publication in the Boletín Oficial del Estado and matching reports by national media on 6 October 2026. All dates and times refer to that announcement; any later changes to the electoral timetable would also have to be published in the official gazette.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).