General elections were held in Malta on 30 May 2026, with 356,832 registered voters entitled to vote to elect all members of the House of Representatives. The ruling Labour Party led by Robert Abela won the election, securing 36 seats with 52% of the first preference vote. The party became the first to win four consecutive elections, in spite of its vote share declining by three percentage points from the 2022 election. The Nationalist Party, led by Alex Borg, won 29 seats with 45% of the vote, narrowing the gap between the two parties from 39,474 votes in the 2022 election to 21,721. The Nationalist Party received 2 additional seats through the Proportionality Corrective Mechanism, for a total of 31 seats. Both parties received 6 additional seats each through the Gender Corrective Mechanism, resulting in a Labour Party total of 42 seats, and a Nationalist Party total of 37 seats.
Background The previous elections in March 2022 saw the Labour Party, which has governed the country since 2013, receive 55% of the popular vote and win 44 out of 79 seats in the House of Representatives. Robert Abela, the prime minister and leader of the Labour Party since 2020, and his new cabinet were sworn in on 30 March 2022. Bernard Grech, the leader of the Nationalist Party, was re-elected unopposed in May 2022. The current Leader of the Opposition is Alex Borg, leader of the Nationalist Party, since 10 September 2025. The election was announced following a deal to transfer Manoel Island back to the Maltese government, and in the context of the ongoing war in Iran.
Despite media speculation for months that Abela was considering calling a snap election, Abela repeatedly denied the rumours. On 22 March, Abela unveiled a focus on a "stronger Malta" for Labour's forthcoming manifesto in a speech to supporters. Following hints during his Freedom Day speech of an impending election, the Labour Party held a Congress from 12 to 17 April in which the election manifesto guidelines were approved by the party's members.
In an address on national television, Abela announced a snap election for 30 May 2026, surprisingly citing geopolitical instability as requiring a new mandate from the Maltese people.
Parliamentary parties before the election The table below lists parties represented in the House of Representatives after the 2022 general election. Name Ideology Political position Leader 2022 result Seats atdissolution Votes (%) Seats Labour Party (PL) Social democracy Centre-left Robert Abela55.11% 1 Nationalist Party (PN) Christian Democracy Centre-right Alex Borg41.74% Independents 1
Electoral system MPs are elected from 13 five-seat constituencies by single transferable vote using optional preferential voting. Candidates who pass the Droop quota in the first round are elected, and any surplus votes transferred to the remaining candidates, who will be elected if this enables them to pass the quota. The lowest ranked candidates are then eliminated one-by-one with their preferences transferred to other candidates, who are elected as they pass the quotient, until all five seats are filled. If only two parties obtain seats, if the party which wins a majority of first preference votes fails to achieve a parliamentary majority, it is awarded additional seats to ensure a one-seat majority.
In 2018, the Parliament of Malta lowered the national voting age to 16. During the 2017–2022 legislature a gender-corrective mechanism was introduced, with Article 52(A) of the Constitution stating that provides for up to 12 additional seats for unelected candidates from "the under-represented sex" in case one of both makes up less than 40% of the elected MPs. Candidates are allowed to run in two different constituencies, and if elected in both, they must vacate one of the seats. Their replacement is chosen by a "casual election", in which the votes for the vacating candidate are redistributed.
Despite conducting elections under a proportional ranked preferential system, Malta has a stable two-party system, with only the Labour Party and Nationalist Party having a proven realistic chance of forming a government. Prior to the 2017 election, when the Democratic Party won two seats while running in a joint list with the Nationalist Party, the last time a party/parties other than the Labour Party or the Nationalist Party won seats were the pro-Church parties in alliance with the Nationalist Party in 1962.
Timetable Date Event 27 AprilPrime Minister Robert Abela announces a snap election and requests a dissolution of Parliament from President Myriam Spiteri Debono. Labour Party and Nationalist Party announce their respective campaign slogans. 28 April Former Affordable Housing Minister Roderick Galdes formally challenges the desicion by the Labour Party Executive to bar him from running due to a previous scandal which forced his resignation. The Labour Party reiterates its first few proposals concerning parental and youth relief from their upcoming manifesto during a press conference and during a mass meeting in Żejtun The Nationalist Party announce its first healthcare-related proposals from their upcoming manifesto during a mass meeting in Pieta. Imperium Europa is banned from Instagram. 29 AprilMomentum announces that Professor Pierre Schembri-Wismayer will be contesting on their ticket. Alex Borg visited Maritime MT. Prime Minister Robert Abela met Roderick Galdes in private discussion. Robert Abela attends an interview in Sannat, Gozo, where he announces that the Labour manifesto will hold 100 Gozo-related promises, including a 45 million euro interconnector, the modernisation of all their schools and road reparations. Nationalist Party holds rally in Mellieħa, where Alex Borg promises minimum-wage stipends for healthcare students, an overall 25% increase in stipends, and heavy tax incentives for returning healthcare expats.30 AprilMomentum unveiled their candidates for all 13 districts. Robert Abela announces a third interconnector between Malta and Sicily which would cost €600 million. AD+PD calls out the interconnector project as a 'false promise'.1 May Labour Party holds flagship May Day mass rally in Castille Square, Valletta. Nationalist Party holds flagship May Day mass rally in Ħal Lija.2 May Malta Chamber of Commerce calls out Robert Abela's proposals on the economy as 'Populist'. The Nationalist Party announced that it would make Gozo a region.3 May Nationalist Pary holds rally in Bormla, where Alex Borg promised to cut energy bills by a third. Labour Party holds rally in Naxxar. During the rally Robert Abela pledged to increase children's allowance and in-work benefits.4 May Nationalist Party holds rally in Żurrieq. Labour Party holds rally in Santa Venera.5 May Labour Party holds rally in Siġġewi. Nationalist Party holds rally in Ħ'Attard.6 May Labour Party holds discussion in Santa Luċija. Nationalist Party holds rally in Birkirkara.8 May Labour Party holds rally in Xagħra, Gozo.10 May Labour Party holds rally in Bormla, outside the Kottonera Sports Complex. Nationalist Party holds rally in Siġġiewi.13 May Nationalist Party holds rally in Ħal-Qormi.14 May Nationalist Party holds rally in Paola.15 May Nationalist Party holds discussion in Swieqi.16 May Nationalist Party holds rally in Munxar, Gozo.17 May Labour Party holds rally in Mqabba. Nationalist Party holds discussion in Ħaż-Żebbuġ. Nationalist Party holds mass meeting in Mosta.18 May University debate is held; featuring Robert Abela, Alex Borg, Sandra Gauci, Arnold Cassola and Paul Salomone. Nationalist Party holds a meeting of the general council at the Party Headquarters in Pieta.19 May Nationalist Party holds rally in St. Paul's Bay next to Wignacourt Tower.20 May Nationalist Party holds rally in Mqabba.28 MayLabour Party holds rally in Floriana. Nationalist Party holds rally in Luxol – Pembroke.29 May – Silent Day / election silence.30 May – Election Day31 May – Counting and Results Labour Party declares victory, details unclear. Vote gap is being disputed.Swearing in – Oath of New Prime Minister1 June Robert Abela is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Malta.New Cabinet3 June Robert Abela announces new cabinet to form part of the Maltese Government.
Participating parties Name Founded Leader(s) Main ideology Political position Labour Party 1921 Robert Abela Social democracy Centre-left Nationalist Party 1926 Alex Borg Christian Democracy Centre-right AD+PD 2020 Sandra Gauci Green politics Centre-left Momentum 2025 Arnold Cassola Centrism Centre Aħwa Maltin 2020 Paul Salomone Right-wing populism Right-wing to Far-right Imperium Europa 2000 Eman Cross Ultranationalism Far-right
Volt Malta stated they would not participate in the election, and would instead "support progressive and moderate third-party and independent voices".
Candidates MPs not running for re-election MPs not running for re-electionPartyMPDistrictFirst electedIndependent (ex-Labour)Clayton Bartolo122017LabourChristopher Agius21996Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi52017Aaron Farrugia1Michael Farrugia121992Roderick Galdes62003Edward Zammit Lewis81996NationalistDavid Agius112003Karol Aquilina92017Ivan J. BartoloClaudette Buttigieg82013Ryan Callus6Robert Cutajar12Mario de Marco12003Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici31998Chris Said13 – Gozo2008
Party totals The Labour Party, Nationalist Party, AD+PD, Momentum and Aħwa Maltin fielded candidates in all 13 constituencies. Imperium Europa fielded their leader Eman Cross in two constituencies. Two independent candidates also ran. Since candidates are allowed to contest two different constituencies, some parties have fewer candidates than constituencies.
Parties Candidates Constituencies Labour 72 13 Nationalist 65 13 AD+PD 8 13 Momentum 7 13 Aħwa Maltin 7 13Imperium Europa 1 2 Independent 2 3
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