Date set for 2026 parliamentary elections in Cyprus

The Ministry of Interior of Cyprus has officially set Sunday, May 24, 2026, as the date for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Nominations for candidates are scheduled to be submitted on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Prior to the formal publication of the electoral decree, the President of the Republic must approve the self-dissolution of Parliament, a process expected to conclude imminently following the conclusion of an informal EU summit. Elikkos Ilias has been appointed as the General Returning Officer, alongside Menelaos Vasiliou as the Assistant General Returning Officer. Regional returning officers have also been appointed for Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, Larnaca, Paphos, Kyrenia, and for voters abroad. Estimates indicate that 18 parties may participate, surpassing the 15 parties that ran in 2021, with the total number of candidates likely to exceed the previous count of 651.