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{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2026 General Election
| country = Zambia
| image = [[File:Coat of Arms of Zambia.svg|125px|Coat of arms of Zambia]]
| type = general
| year = 2026
| date = 13 August 2026
| seats_up = 156 (National Assembly)
| system = [[Two-round system]] (Presidential) and [[First-past-the-post voting]] (National Assembly)
| last_election = [[2021 General Election]]
| alliances = 
| map = 
| turnout = 
| incumbent_party = [[United Party for National Development]] (UPND)
| incumbent_leader = [[Hakainde Hichilema]]
| incumbent_since = 2021
| challenger_party = [[Patriotic Front]] (PF)
| challenger_leader = To be determined (TBD)
| challenger_last = [[Edgar Lungu]]
| website = 
}}

The 2026 General Election is scheduled for 13 August 2026 to elect the President, members of the [[National Assembly of Zambia]], as well as local government councillors and council chairs. This election is significant as the [[United Party for National Development]] (UPND) seeks a second term in office.

== Electoral System ==
The elections for the Presidency and National Assembly use separate systems:

* President: The President is elected through the [[Two-round system]]. A candidate must secure more than 50% of valid votes to win in the first round. If no candidate meets this threshold, a second-round runoff occurs between the top two candidates.
* National Assembly: Of 167 members, 156 are elected via [[First-past-the-post voting|first-past-the-post]] in single-member constituencies. The President appoints eight members, while three others are ex officio (Vice President, Speaker, and a deputy speaker elected externally).

The minimum voting age is 18 years. National Assembly candidates must be at least 21 years old. The [[Electoral Commission of Zambia]] (ECZ) supervises all election processes.

== Presidential Candidates and Campaigns ==
The main contest is expected between the ruling UPND and the main opposition [[Patriotic Front]] (PF).

=== United Party for National Development (UPND) ===
* Candidate: [[Hakainde Hichilema]] (incumbent President)  
* Endorsements: Early support from allies including the [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD) and the [[Party of National Unity and Progress]] (PNUP).

=== Patriotic Front (PF) ===
The PF is undergoing leadership restructuring following the death of former President [[Edgar Lungu]]. The new leader will be the PF’s presidential candidate.

* Candidate: To be determined at the [[Patriotic Front 2025 Convention|2025 PF Presidential Convention]]. Candidates include Given Lubinda, Chishimba Kambwili, and Brian Mundubile.

=== Other Parties and Aspirants ===
Other parties and independents expected to contest:
* [[Socialist Party]] (SP)
* [[Democratic Party]] (DP)

== Key Issues ==
Key national issues likely to dominate the campaign include:
* Economic recovery and national debt management
* Cost of living, including food and fuel prices
* Governance, judicial independence, and anti-corruption measures





== Constituent parties ==
The Tonse Alliance is currently composed of the following political parties:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
! Party
! Abbreviation
! Ideology 
! [[National Assembly of Zambia]]
|-
| [[New Congress Party|New Congress Party]]
| ''NCP''
|
| {{Composition bar|1|156|hex={{party color|United Party for National Development}}}}
|-
| [[Patriotic Front|Patriotic Front]]
| ''PF''
| [[Socialism]]
| {{Composition bar|56|156|hex={{party color|Party of National Unity and Progress}}}}
|-
| [[Patriots for Economic Progress]]
| ''PEP''
|
| {{Composition bar|0|156|hex={{party color|United Party for National Development}}}}
|-
| [[Forum for Democracy and Development]]
| ''FDD''
| [[Democracy]]
| {{Composition bar|0|156|hex={{party color|United Party for National Development}}}}
|-
|[[Zambia Must Prosper]]
|''ZMP''
|
|{{Composition bar|0|156|hex={{party color|United Party for National Development}}}}
|-
| [[Christian Democratic Party|Christian Democratic Party]]
| ''CDP''
|[[Democracy]]
| {{Composition bar|0|156|hex={{party color|United Party for National Development}}}}
|-
|[[Zambia Republican Party]]
|''ZRP''
|[[Progressivism]]
|{{Composition bar|0|156|hex={{party color|United Party for National Development}}}}
|-
|[[New Era Democratic Party]]
|''NEDP''
|[[Democracy]]
|{{Composition bar|0|156|hex={{party color|United Party for National Development}}}}
|-
|[[ALL Peoples Congress Party]]
|''APC''
|[[Democracy]]
|{{Composition bar|0|156|hex={{party color|ALL Peoples Congress Party}}}}
|-
|}


== See Also ==
* [[Hakainde Hichilema]]
* [[Patriotic Front]]
* [[2021 General Election]]


[[Category:2026 elections]]
[[Category:General elections]]