Key dates for 2026 General Election
The Electoral Commission has confirmed the timetable for the 2026 General Election following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the election date.
The 2026 General Election will be held on Saturday 7 November 2026. The key dates for the election are set out in the table below.
| 2026 General Election timetable | |
| 21 January | Prime Minister announces date for the 2026 General Election |
| 6 August | Last day for registration of parties and logos |
| Midnight, 6 August | Last day for Māori who are already enrolled to change roll types |
| 7 August | Regulated period for election advertising expenses begins |
| 1 October | Dissolution of Parliament |
| 4 October | Writ Day - the Governor-General issues formal direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the election Anyone who enrols after this date casts a special vote. |
| Noon, 8 October | Nominations close for candidates |
| 21 October | Overseas voting starts |
| 25 October | Last day to enrol to vote in the election |
| 26 October | Advance voting starts |
| 6 November | Regulated period ends. All election advertising must end. Signs must be taken down by midnight. |
| 7 November | Election day. Voting places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm Election night. Preliminary election results released progressively from 7.00pm on electionresults.govt.nz |
| 27 November | Official results for the 2026 General Election declared |
| 3 December | Last day for the return of the writ |
The timetable for the election is determined in accordance with the Electoral Act 1993.