The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENA) of Benin has published the official schedule for the 2026 legislative and municipal elections, providing a clear roadmap for political parties and voters across the country.
According to the calendar, the submission of candidacy declarations for municipal elections will take place from October 24 to 28, 2025. Parties that successfully file their applications will have their candidacies officially published from October 29.
For the legislative elections, the filing period is scheduled from November 8 to 12, 2025, with the list of validated parties set to be released on November 13. The same day will mark the official receipt of the Computerized Electoral List (LEI).
The final list of parties authorized to contest municipal seats will be published on November 17, while the official list of parties competing for legislative seats is scheduled for December 1.
Single ballots for political parties will be submitted between December 15 and 19, 2025. The electoral campaign, common to both legislative and municipal elections, will open on December 26 and conclude on January 9, 2026, two days before polling day.
Voting is scheduled for Sunday, January 11, 2026. A total of 109 deputies and 1,815 municipal councilors will be elected. Provisional results are expected between January 12 and 13, followed by the publication of the final municipal election results on the same dates.
Finally, CENA plans to release, on February 10, 2026, the official list of localities where each political party will be authorized to designate village and city district chiefs.
With this calendar now officially confirmed, political parties have a clear timeline to prepare for what is expected to be a decisive electoral cycle for Benin’s democratic institutions. The announcement provides both voters and candidates with a structured framework to ensure transparency and organization in the upcoming polls.
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