Thailand Sets General Election for February 8, 2026

BANGKOK, December 15, 2025 — Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) officially announced Monday that the nation will hold a general election on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The snap poll, which is earlier than initially anticipated, comes just days after the House of Representatives was dissolved, triggering a critical 60-day deadline for new elections.

The announcement sets the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle to determine the composition of the 500-seat House of Representatives. The election is mandated to take place between 45 and 60 days following the dissolution of the lower house, with February 8 representing the latest possible date for the vote.

Political Turmoil Spurs Early Poll

The decision to dissolve parliament was initiated by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, who secured a Royal Decree from King Maha Vajiralongkorn on December 12.

Prime Minister Anutin’s move followed increasing political instability and a breakdown in cooperation with the largest opposition bloc, the People’s Party, which had initially supported his ascent to the premiership in September. The government has faced significant turbulence since the 2023 election, with the country seeing three different prime ministers in less than two years following court rulings that removed the previous two leaders.

The quick timeline aims to resolve the current political deadlock, which many fear could destabilize Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy amidst ongoing regional tensions.

Election Timeline and Process

The Election Commission has also released key dates for the electoral process:

• Candidate Registration: Applications for both constituency and party-list candidates are expected to be accepted in late December.
• Advance Voting: Early voting for registered voters will take place on February 1, 2026.
• Poll Results: The EC stated that official results must be announced no later than April 9, 2026. Following the certification of results, the new Parliament must convene within 15 days to elect its speakers and formally vote for the next Prime Minister.

Voters will cast ballots to elect 400 constituency members and 100 party-list members. Political parties are permitted to submit up to three prime ministerial candidates to be considered by the new Parliament.

Opinion polls ahead of the dissolution had indicated significant public interest in the election, with the People’s Party—the successor to the progressive Move Forward Party that dominated the 2023 vote—maintaining strong popularity. The upcoming election will once again pit the younger, progressive political forces against the established conservative and military-aligned parties that have long held power.

Key Timelines Announced

• 20 Dec 2025 – 5 Jan 2026: Registration period for advance voters, including those voting within their constituency, outside their constituency, or overseas.
• 27–31 Dec 2025: Registration of constituency candidates.
• 28–31 Dec 2025: Registration of party‑list candidates, limited to parties that have already submitted constituency candidates. Parties must also submit their prime ministerial nominees during this window.
• 1 Feb 2026: Advance voting day.
• 8 Feb 2026: General Election Day.

The dissolution marks the beginning of a new electoral cycle, setting the stage for political parties to finalize candidates and campaign strategies ahead of the February poll. The Royal Decree dissolving the House, issued at the request of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, took effect on 12 December, triggering the formal election timeline. The EC approved the full election plan during its meeting today.