Key Elections in Latin America in 2026, from Colombia to Brazil

Latin America enters 2026 with elections that could redefine the region’s political direction in a context of low growth, institutional fatigue, social polarization, and mounting pressure from U.S. political influence over the territory, openly declared and effectively initiated since last week’s intervention in Venezuela.

From Central America to the Caribbean and the major South American powers, this year’s elections will test the ability of political systems to channel discontent, sustain governability, and respond to an increasingly demanding citizenry. Among several countries, Colombia and Brazil will decide whether to maintain their progressive governments or return conservative heads of state, as happened in Bolivia or Chile in 2025.

Key elections in Latin America in 2026, from Colombia to Brazil

Costa Rica

Costa Rica opens the electoral year with a February vote marked by the end of the current government’s cycle and a debate focused on the cost of living, security, and the sustainability of the social model. The country, traditionally seen as a bastion of democratic stability in Central America, faces tensions accumulated from rising crime, the deterioration of public services, and a strained relationship between the Executive and other branches of government in recent years.

The elections are shaping up as a barometer of public support for the reforms promoted by the outgoing government and its confrontational style toward union, judicial, and university sectors. At the same time, the electorate appears divided between those calling for continuity in fiscal discipline and those demanding a shift toward policies that more strongly protect the welfare state.

Party fragmentation and the possibility of a runoff once again place the emphasis on negotiation and the ability to build majorities, a recurring feature of Costa Rican politics that today unfolds in a climate of heightened tension.

Laura Fernández, candidate of the right-wing populist People’s Sovereign Party (PPS), who served as minister of the presidency of the current government between 2024 and 2025, appears as the favorite in all polls to succeed current president Rodrigo Cháves, now an independent, but who in 2022 won the election as a candidate of the same party. The large number of undecided voters—between 34% and 55%—will determine whether there is a winner in February or whether a runoff will be needed, scheduled for April.

Peru

In April, Peru will hold general elections in a scenario dominated by political fatigue and three decades of acute institutional crisis. After years of instability, with presidents removed, investigated, or forced to leave office, the country goes to the polls with deep distrust of the elites and weakened institutions. The campaign unfolds under the shadow of a crisis of representation that has eroded the legitimacy of both the Executive and Congress.

The electoral debate revolves around the need for political and constitutional reforms, economic recovery, and the management of social conflicts linked to territorial inequality and the exploitation of natural resources. Following the forced removal of Dina Boluarte, José Jeri is steering the South American country until these pivotal elections are held.

Rural and urban voters once again show different priorities, while candidates attempt to capitalize on rejection of the establishment without, in many cases, offering clear and viable programs. The risk of a new phase of confrontation between branches of government persists, making these elections a decisive test for governability in the Andean country.

For now, conservative candidate Rafael López-Aliaga leads all polls on voting intention, ahead of Mario Vizcarra—brother of former president Martín Vizcarra—and Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the late former president Alberto Fujimori.

Colombia

In 2026, Colombia will experience a two-stage electoral process that will be key to defining continuity or change in the political project launched with Gustavo Petro’s victory in 2022. In March, legislative elections will serve as a first gauge of support for the government and its reform agenda in social, labor, and peace matters.

The outcome of those elections will mark the Executive’s room for maneuver in its final stretch, the remote chances of realizing a potential National Constituent Assembly—championed by President Petro after these elections—and will anticipate alliances ahead of the presidential race.

The presidential campaign, to be held between May and June, will be shaped by the assessment of security policy, progress in talks with armed groups, and the impact of economic reforms in a context of slowdown. Tensions with the United States could also be key, as could the evolution of inflation.

Polarization will remain a central feature, with an electorate divided between those who defend an approach of deep social transformation and those who call for a turn toward more orthodox policies and a renewed emphasis on public order, as currently reflected in the polls for right-wing options led by independent lawyer Abelardo De la Espriella.

Nevertheless, for now, it is the continuity candidate, Senator Iván Cepeda, who leads voting intentions. This historic human rights defender has already denounced alleged attempts at interference by the White House, following threats from Washington that Colombian diplomacy is now trying to channel through the historic meeting between Petro and Trump in February.

A runoff once again appears as a likely scenario, reflecting a multiparty system in which no bloc manages to prevail clearly, despite Cepeda’s calls to win in the first round. Beyond the names, what is at stake is the orientation of the state in a country seeking to close decades of conflict without aggravating social tensions.

Haiti

Haiti faces one of the most complex and fragile electoral processes in the region in 2026. After years of institutional crisis, widespread violence, and the collapse of basic services, the country is attempting to return to the constitutional path with elections scheduled for August 30, following the last-minute suspension of a vote that was to be held last year on November 15 and was rendered unviable by generalized violence.

Insecurity, gang territorial control, and state weakness pose enormous logistical and political challenges to organizing the elections. The poorest country in the Americas has been caught in a spiral of violence since the assassination of then-president Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

Citizen participation and the credibility of the electoral process will be decisive factors in a context of deep distrust. The international community is closely monitoring the development of the electoral calendar, aware that Haiti’s stability is a regional issue. More than a traditional programmatic contest, the elections represent an attempt to rebuild institutional legitimacy and open a political way out of a prolonged crisis.

The polls show a certain preference for the Haiti en Acción party candidate over the Progressive Democrats.

Brazil

Brazil, Latin America’s main power, will enter October 2026 with presidential and legislative elections that will draw regional attention. As the subcontinent largest economy, Brazil’s political direction has effects that go beyond its borders, from regional integration to the environmental agenda. The campaign unfolds in a climate of high polarization, with intense debates over growth, inflation, social policy, and the role of the state in regulating the economy.

The environmental issue, especially the protection of the Amazon, once again occupies a central place both in domestic discourse and in the country’s international projection. At the same time, public security and the fight against organized crime rank among citizens’ top concerns.

The electoral result will define not only continuity or a replacement of the current leadership, but also Brazil’s ability to regain diplomatic prominence and stabilize its internal political landscape after years of confrontation.

Veteran Lula da Silva, 80, will seek to retain the presidency for the left in a country that is key to Latin America, although Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the far-right former president—now convicted for an attempted coup in 2023—Jair Bolsonaro, could have his chances to bring about a radical shift in the direction of South America’s economic locomotive.

The ultra-conservative shift in Latin America that could consolidate in 2026

The 2026 electoral map in Latin America shows a region in search of answers. Although each country faces distinct realities, recurring themes include the demand for security, economic pressure, and the wear and tear of political systems. The outcome of these elections will not only shape governments but will also offer clues about the ability of Latin American democracies to adapt to a time of uncertainty and change.

What is certain is that in 2025, countries such as Chile, Bolivia, and Honduras shifted to the right after left-wing presidencies, while Ecuador and Argentina reaffirmed the consolidation of conservative majorities they already had before the year began. With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, and following allegations of supposed pressure and attempts by Washington to interfere in Latin American elections, attention in 2026 is focused on Colombia and Brazil.

These two countries will measure at the ballot box the strength—or lack thereof—of their left-wing governments, along with others that must democratically renew their governments and face their immediate future with renewed mandates.