General elections were held in Barbados on 11 February 2026 to elect the 30 members of the House of Assembly. Parliament was dissolved on 19 January and the final day for nominations was 27 January. The two leader candidates were Mia Mottley of the Barbados Labour Party and Ralph Thorne of the Democratic Labour Party. The ruling BLP won all 30 seats for the third election in a row, with DLP leader Thorne being defeated in St. John.

Background According to the Constitution of Barbados, the Parliament shall stand dissolved no later than every five years from the first sitting of Parliament.Constitution: Section 61 (3): "Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved. (4) At any time when Barbados is at war, Parliament may extend the period of five years specified in subsection (3) for not more than twelve months at a time:" The previous general elections were held on 19 January 2022, and the first sitting of the new session of Parliament was held on 4 February 2022. After the dissolution of Parliament, the President of Barbados must issue a writ for a general election of members to the House of Assembly and for appointment of senators to the Senate within 90 days.Constitution: Section 62 (1) (2): "After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor General shall issue writs for a general election of members of the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from that dissolution. (2) As soon as may be after every general election the Governor General shall proceed under section 36 to the appointment of Senators." The 2022 general elections saw the ruling Barbados Labour Party win all 30 seats for the second consecutive election since 2018. Following the loss, DLP leader Verla De Peiza resigned from party leadership on 21 January 2022.

Ronnie Yearwood was selected as the next DLP president on 1 May 2022. On 10 February 2024, Ralph Thorne crossed the floor and became opposition leader. After crossing, Thorne appointed Ryan Walters and Tricia Watson as opposition senators. Yearwood confirmed that Thorne officially joined the DLP and became the party's political leader on 19 February the same year. The DLP began losing confidence in Yearwood as DLP president after he attended a meeting with Saint Lucia's opposition leader Allen Chastanet without permission from Thorne. A power struggle within the party followed, with the DLP dividing into factions between Thorne and Yearwood. DLP general secretary Steve Blackett and Yearwood were suspended in May 2024 by the party's general council as a result of the struggle. Blackett and Yearwood were expelled from the DLP on 17 August 2024.

On 17 January 2026, Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, called for a new general election to be held less than a month away on 11 February of the same year.

Electoral system The 30 members of the House of Assembly are elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.Electoral system IPU The system is modeled on the Westminster system.

Campaign Following the call for an election on 17 January, DLP leader and leader of the opposition stated that the DLP was ready to campaign on cost of living, crime, and the healthcare system. In the early campaign, Grenville Phillips II, party president of Solutions Barbados, remarked that there was no room for a third party in Barbados but he was still willing to support candidates who ran under Solutions Barbados. Reform Barbados founder Steve Prescott stated that his party would platform on economic reform, cost of living, and addressing youth unemployment.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressed a crowd on 22 January, detailing the public sector wage increases, reductions in income taxes, improvement of health care, and investments in public transport. Ryan Walters, a DLP candidate in St. Michael North West, stressed that voter engagement was top priority for DLP in the elections. Charles McDonald Griffith, who was running against Thorne in St. John, stating that he had assisted in improvements of public transport, sanitation, and employment.

BLP candidates paid their election deposits on 22 January, followed by both the DLP and Friends of Democracy on 23 January. The DLP staged an islandwide motorcade on 24 January, which traveled through the constituencies of Bridgetown, St. Michael, St. James, St. Peter, St. Lucy, St. George, St. John, St. Philip, and Christ Church. Thorne made several claims throughout the election campaign of the BLP-led government "interfering" with the voter list and the work of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC), disenfranchising potential electors. He also called for an extension of voter registration deadlines. Mottley refuted his claims and invited authorities from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Commonwealth of Nations to act as official election observers. She stated this decision was made in a bid to "protect the reputation of Barbados".

The BLP launched their party manifesto on 2 February, while the DLP launched their party manifesto on 8 February. The same day, Mottley criticised the DLP for giving Barbadians little time to analyse the DLP's manifesto. The FOD also outlined their policies on 8 February, calling for affordable housing, budget reform, and the reintroduction of capital and corporal punishment. The secretary general's office of the Commonwealth of Nations, which as a body had fielded election observers from other countries to Barbados, hailed the election as being peaceful and noted the "strong civic participation and respect for democratic rules". The press statement highlighted the fact "some names" were not found on the polling day voter's census. Though the overall election was summarized as being a positive example for the world.

Conduct Early voting was held for police officers and election day workers on 4 February. In previous elections, members of the overseas diplomatic corps have voted early as well. The EBC was reportedly in a state of readiness the day before the 11 February election. Polling was held from 06:00 to 18:00 (AST). Chief Electoral Officer Shirland Turton said there would be 542 polling boxes across the 30 constituencies, and more than 2,500 people were employed to facilitate operations at the various locations.

Candidate affiliation Ten political parties nominated candidates for this election. Including two independents, there were a total of 93 candidates. The slate of potential electors vying disclosed their affiliation under eight main political affiliations: The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) – the previous ruling party administration The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Reform Barbados (RB) Solutions Barbados (SB) Friends of Democracy (FOD) Barbados Sovereignty Party (BSP) Bajan Free Party (BFP) The People's Coalition for Progress (PCP) An independent coalition of smaller parties was announced involving an alliance comprising candidates running under the banner of: the New National Party (NNP), the United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Conservative Barbados Leadership Party (CBLP).

Parties PartyPositionIdeologyLeaderLeader sinceLeader's seat2022 electionSeats atdissolutionContestedseats % Seats Barbados Labour Party Centre-left Social democracyRepublicanism Mia Mottley 26 February 2013St. Michael North East69.26 30 seats Democratic Labour Party Centre-left Social democracyRepublicanism Ralph Thorne19 February 2024 Christ Church South Standing in St. John26.41 30 seats People's Coalition for Progress(NNP–UPP–CBLP) Centre-leftto centre-right Social democracyProgressivismConservatismMulticulturalism Kemar StuartLynette EastmondCorey Beckles 19 January 2026 Standing in St. John Standing in St. Philip West Standing in City of Bridgetown New 12 seats Friends of Democracy Centre-left Social democracy Karina Goodridge 18 May 2025 Standing in St. Phillip WestNew 12 seats Bajan Free Party Government transparencyAnti-corruption Alex Mitchell 1 October 2012 Standing in St. Michael South0.17 3 seats Barbados Sovereignty Party Michael Thompson None0.11 2 seats Solutions Barbados Centre Third Way Grenville Phillips II 1 July 2015 None0.69 1 seat Reform Barbados Steve Prescott 2018 Standing in Christ Church EastNew 1 seat

Candidates by constituencies Source: The Nation Barbados Name BLP DLP FOD PCP SB BFP BSP RB Independent City of Bridgetown Michael Lashley Dale Rowe Corey Beckles Patrick King Christ Church East Wilfred Abrahams Amoy Bourne Ingrid Best Steven Prescott Christ Church East Central Ryan Straughn Quincy Jones Dominique Yorke Natalie Parris Christ Church South Shantal Munro-Knight Corey Greenidge Christopher Alleyne Robert Toussaint Christ Church West William Duguid Andrew Cave Christ Church West Central Adrian Forde Rasheed Belgrave St. Andrew Romel Springer Ramon Goodman St. George North Toni Moore David Walrond St. George South Dwight Sutherland Felicia Dujon Suzanne Holligan St. James Central Kerrie Symmonds Paul Gibson Kerry Thomas Erskine Alleyne St. James North Chad Blackman Charles Worrel Steffanie Williams St. James South Sandra Husbands Pedro Greaves Matthew Thorne St. Lucy Peter Phillips Ian Griffith Sherlan Davis Wayne Griffith St. Michael Central Tyra Trotman Andre Worrel Raymond Wiggins Anthony Hinds St. Michael East Trevor Prescod Ensley Grainger Carolyn Clarke St. Michael South Kirk Humphrey Nathaniel Boyce Alex Mitchell St. Michael South Central Marsha Caddle Richard Sealy David Gill St. Michael South East Santia Bradshaw Pedro Shepherd Roy Turney St. Michael North Davidson Ishmael Dawn Armstrong Ricardo Harrison St. Michael North East Mia Mottley Jamal Sandiford Clarene Howard St. Michael North West Neil Rowe Ryan Walters Ricardo Williams St. Michael West Christopher Gibbs Damien Fanus Patsie Nurse St. Michael West CentralIan Gooding-Edghill James Paul, Chief Executive Officerof the Barbados Agricultural Society Katrina Ramsay St. Peter Colin Jordan Jason Phillips St. Philip North Dr. Sonia Browne Simon Clarke Anya Lorde Nigel Newton St. Philip South Indar Weir Neil Marshall Omar Smith John Scantlebury St. Philip West Kay McConney David Estwick Karina Goodridge Lynette Eastmond St. John Charles Griffith Ralph Thorne Kemar Stuart St. Joseph Ryan Brathwaite Randall Rouse St. Thomas Gregory Nicholls Rolerick Hinds Irving Wittaker

Opinion polls Polling firm Last date Link BLP DLP Others Margin Sample size Lead The Nation BarbadosStarcom Network 77.1 18.6 4.3 ±3pp 1 145 58.5 Mia Mottley announces 2026 Barbadian general election 2022 election 69.26 26.41 4.35 114,013 42.85

Results Early results first came in shortly after 11 pm local time, with a victory for the BLP's Santia Bradshaw in Saint Michael South East. A preliminary tally showed the BLP winning 15,978 votes (74.1%) and securing 21 seats, with the DLP winning 5,406 votes (25.1%) with no seats yet secured. By the early morning of 12 February, the BLP secured all 30 seats for the third election in a row. In St. John, Charles Griffith retained the seat with 2,327 votes, defeating DLP leader Ralph Thorne, who received 1,877 votes. In St. Michael North West, incumbent Neil Rowe won with 1,674 votes, defeating a strong challenge from DLP candidate Ryan Walters, who received 1,441 votes. In St. Michael Central and Bridgetown, BLP candidates who crossed the floor from the DLP won their respective races.

Results by constituency Sources for votes:

Bridgetown

Christ Church East

Christ Church East Central

Christ Church South

Christ Church West

Christ Church West Central

St. Andrew

St. George North

St. George South

St. James Central

St. James North

St. James South

St. John

St. Joseph

St. Lucy

St. Michael Central

St. Michael East

St. Michael North

St. Michael North East

St. Michael North West

St. Michael South

St. Michael South Central