2026 Thai general election

2026 Thai general election

8 February 2026

All 500 seats in the House of Representatives
251 seats needed for a majority
Registered52,933,610 ( 1.33%)
Turnout71.43% ( 4.28 pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate Anutin Charnvirakul Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut Yodchanan Wongsawat
Party Bhumjaithai People's Pheu Thai
Last election 71 seats 151 seats 141 seats
Seats won 192 120 74
Seat change 121 31 67
Constituency vote 9,993,777 7,864,475 5,789,512
% and swing 29.92% ( 16.43 pp) 23.55% ( 1.85 pp) 17.34% ( 7.20 pp)
Party-list vote 6,468,073 11,043,309 5,575,456
% and swing 17.90% ( 14.91 pp) 30.56% ( 7.43 pp) 15.43% ( 13.41 pp)

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Candidate Thamanat Prompow Abhisit Vejjajiva
Party Kla Tham Democrat
Last election New 25 seats
Seats won 58 21
Seat change New 4
Constituency vote 3,847,563 2,017,120
% and swing 11.52% (New) 6.04% ( 0.05 pp)
Party-list vote 648,662 3,941,928
% and swing 1.79% (New) 10.91% ( 8.48 pp)

Results by constituency

Prime Minister before election

Anutin Charnvirakul
Bhumjaithai

Prime Minister-designate

Anutin Charnvirakul
Bhumjaithai

General elections were held in Thailand on 8 February 2026 in order to determine the composition of the House of Representatives. A referendum was also held on the same day so as to determine whether the 2017 constitution should be replaced with a new one.

After the 2023 general election, three coalition governments were formed by the resulting parliament. After an initial attempt by the progressive Move Forward Party was blocked by the Senate, the Pheu Thai Party split off to form governments with conservative and pro-military parties, first under Srettha Thavisin and later under Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Both governments collapsed, with Srettha removed by a court ruling in 2024 and Paetongtarn dismissed by the Constitutional Court in 2025.

In September 2025, an agreement was made between the People's Party and Bhumjaithai Party to support Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, with a requirement for Anutin to dissolve the House within 4 months after the presentation of the government's policy platform. The House was dissolved on 12 December 2025, with a snap election being required within 60 days. The election was scheduled for 8 February 2026, the latest possible date.

The election resulted in the Bhumjaithai Party winning the most in the House of Representatives with 193 seats. The People's Party, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, followed in second place with 118 seats. Pheu Thai, led by Yodchanan Wongsawat, came in third with 74 seats. There was a large drop in turnout, which was 10.47 percentage points down compared to the last election.

The election was a rare victory for conservatism and nationalism in Thailand, marking its first victory in the 21st century. Bhumjaithai was seen as benefiting from nationalist sentiments after Thailand's recent clash with Cambodia. While the other two major parties performed respectably, they ultimately fragmented the centrist and progressive vote.