Presidential elections were held in Colombia on 31 May 2026. Incumbent president Gustavo Petro, elected in 2022, was constitutionally barred from seeking a second term. Abelardo de la Espriella defeated Iván Cepeda by less than 1% in the run-off election held on 21 June 2026.

In the first round, de la Espriella led with 43.7% of the vote, followed by Cepeda with 40.9%. As none of the thirteen candidates obtained at least 50% of the vote in the first round, a run-off was held. The run-off was narrowly won by de la Espriella with 49.66% of the vote against 48.70% obtained by Cepeda. With 12.9 million votes, de la Espriella became the most voted presidential candidate in Colombian history. Cepeda conceded the election on 24 June 2026, and hours later, Petro – while alleging fraud and foreign interference – also recognized the results, announcing that his administration would begin the formal handover process. The election was noted for a continuing trend of right-wing victories across Latin America.

Background In the previous presidential election in 2022, as none of the presidential nominees obtained at least 50% of the votes in the first round, a run-off was held between the top two candidates, Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernández Suárez. Petro won the run-off, becoming the first left-wing candidate to be elected president of Colombia since the country's independence in 1810. The results for the second round saw the lowest record of spoiled and blank ballots in over twenty years and a turnout of 58.17%, the highest since 1998.

Since taking office, Petro and his allies have been involved in several scandals. One scandal, nicknamed "Nannygate", involved the publishing of recordings of then-ambassador to Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, speaking with Petro's Chief of Staff, Laura Sarabia, about possible illegal financing and threats of revealing compromising information on campaign rivals. Both were forced to resign from their positions as a result. The scandal lowered approval of Petro, being viewed by the public as an indication of corruption inside the government. His presidential approval rating dropped to a low of 26% in July 2023 according to a Datexco survey.

In 2025, Petro fired his entire cabinet to reassess his previous choices in light of his appointment of Armando Benedetti as Chief of Staff and promotion of thirty-year-old Laura Sarabia to Foreign Minister; both were embroiled in a campaign finance scandal. His key labor and health-care reforms stalling at the legislative branch, the arrest of his son in a money laundering scandal involving campaign financing, and the scandal involving his ministers contributed to a decrease in public support for the president. However, Petro's approval ratings rebounded significantly, reaching 49% approval as recently as February 2026.

His presidency has been characterized by a progressive economic policy, including a substantial increase in the minimum wage, strengthening of the legal framework for labor rights, redistribution of land to peasants, and higher social spending. Poverty and unemployment have declined, but his opponents point to a rise in public debt. He is ending his term with an approval rating of about 50%, compared with a disapproval rating of 43%.

Electoral system

Candidates

Historic Pact

Cepeda announced his candidacy in July 2025 and was considered one of the initial favorites for the presidential nomination of the Historic Pact in the polls. Cepeda initially competed against six other pre-candidates, four of whom later withdrew, leaving him to face Minister Carolina Corcho and former mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, in the primary election.

Following his victory in the primary election in October 2025, Cepeda officially became the presidential candidate of the Historic Pact. Carolina Corcho, who received the second-highest number of votes, became the lead candidate for the Senate in the 2026 parliamentary elections in March.

After obtaining an overwhelming majority during the parliamentary election on March 8, Cepeda would announce Aida Quilcué as the candidate for vice president on Monday, March 9.

2026 Historic Pact ticket for Presidentfor Vice PresidentSenator(2014–present)Senator(2022–present)

Democratic Centre

Paloma Valencia became the official candidate of the Democratic Center after winning by a wide margin among the delegates, defeating her opponent, Senator María Fernanda Cabal. Valencia also competed in the national primary election on March 8 during the 2026 parliamentary election, where she obtained a significant majority with 3,236,286 votes, surpassing her eight fellow candidates.

Valencia announced her vice-presidential candidate on Thursday, March 12, revealing Juan Daniel Oviedo, who obtained 1,255,510 votes, the second highest vote count during the national primary election.

2026 Democratic Centre ticket for Presidentfor Vice PresidentSenator(2014–present)General Director National Administrative Department of Statistics(2018–2022)

Defenders of the Homeland Political newcomer and lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella represents the opposition Defenders of the Motherland movement. Nicknamed "The Tiger," de la Espriella's campaign focused on security and received an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump. His platform included plans related to combating criminal organizations. 2026 Defenders of the Homeland ticket for Presidentfor Vice PresidentBusinessman(2002–present)Minister of Finance and Public Credit(2021–2022)

Dignity and Commitment 2026 Dignity and Commitment ticket for Presidentfor Vice PresidentGovernor of Antioquia(2012–2016)Secretary of Education of Bogotá(2020–2023)

Other parties and candidates Party/coalition Presidential candidate Origin Experience The Force of Peace Roy BarrerasValle del CaucaMember of the Chamber of Representatives (2006–2010)Senator (2010–2023)President of the Senate (2012–2013, 2022–2023)New LiberalismJuan Manuel GalánBogotáSenator (2006–2018)Independent (Brave Movement) Vicky Dávila Valle del Cauca Director of Semana (2020–2024)Independent (Yes, There Is a Way) David Luna Bogotá, D.C. Member of the Chamber of Representatives (2006–2010)Minister of Information Technologies and Communications (2015–2018)Senator (2022–2025)Independent Santiago BoteroAntioquia BusinessmanOxygen Green PartyJuan Carlos PinzónBogotáMinister of National Defence (2011–2015)General Secretary of the Presidency (2010–2011)Movement in MotionJuan Fernando CristoNorte de SantanderMinister of Interior (2024–2025), (2014–2017)President of the Senate (2013–2014)Senator (1998–2014)Indigenous Authorities of ColombiaDaniel QuinteroAntioquia Mayor of Medellín (2020–2023)Deputy Minister of the Digital Economy (2016–2017)Independent Claudia López Bogotá, D.C. Senator (2014–2018)Mayor of Bogotá (2020–2024)IndependentLuis Gilberto MurilloChocóMinister of Foreign Affairs (2024–2025)Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development (2016–2018)Governor of Chocó (1998–1999), (2012)Independent Mauricio Lizcano Antioquia Member of the Chamber of Representatives (2006–2010)Senator (2010–2018)Minister of Information Technologies and Communications (2023–2025)President of the Senate (2016–2017)Independent Mauricio Cárdenas Bogotá, D.C. Minister of Finance and Public Credit (2012–2018)Minister of Mines and Energy (2011–2012)Minister of Transport (1998–1999)Minister of Economic Development (1994)

Declined or deceased candidates Francia Márquez (Soy Porque Somos), incumbent vice president Miguel Uribe Turbay (Democratic Centre), assassinated senator

Opinion polls Second round De la Espriella vs. Cepeda PollsterFieldwork date + /– Lead Iván CepedaPH Abelardo de la EspriellaMSNCNC6–13 June 2026 44.7%48.6%3.9%AtlasIntel/Semana9–11 June 2026 44.4%52.4%8.0%Guarumo/Ecoanalitica 8–11 June 2026 45%52.6%7.6%AtlasIntel/Semana5–10 June 2026 44.5%52.2%7.7% AtlasIntel / Semana 1–2 June 2026 42.6%50.3%7.7% 44.47%52.51%8.04% 31 May 2026 Cepeda and Espriella advance to the second roundCNC15–22 May 2026 40.9%43.6%2.7%AtlasIntel/Semana18–21 May 2026 41.3%50.0%8.7%Invamer13–20 May 202652.4%45.3%7.1%AtlasIntel/Semana11–14 May 2026 40.4%44.0%3.6%Fundación Génesis Crea4–11 May 202646.5%41.4%5.1%Invamer 15–24 April 202654.6%42.6%12.0%GAD3 20–22 April 202646.0%35.0%11.0%AtlasIntel 6–9 April 202639.8%48.8%9%CNC 17–21 March 202648.1%35.5%12.6%GAD3 16–18 March 202645.0%36.0%9.0%AtlasIntel/SEMANA 10–12 March 202639.2%43.5%4.3%Invamer 11–22 February 202659.4%37.4%20.0%CELAG February 202645.3%38.4%6.9%AtlasIntel/SEMANA 27 January – 4 February 202634.6%36.8%2.2%CNC 15–21 January 202645.2%25.7%19.5%

First round 2026 The CNE suspended AtlasIntel's polls (partnered with Semana) on May 19, 2026, over concerns that invalid methodologies led to biased election reporting. Specific irregularities included digital exclusion bias, model-dependent estimation, inconsistent data, quality control failures, and candidate popularity relative inflation. The ban was lifted on May 21 for procedural reasons (lack of quorum), but the technical probe remains ongoing.

Fieldwork datePollstersSampleMargin of error Blank Void Undecided LeadIván CepedaPHAbelardo de la EspriellaMSNPaloma ValenciaCDSergio FajardoD&CClaudia LópezIC Santiago BoteroRS Miguel LondoñoCDRoy BarrerasLF Carlos CaicedoFCLuis MurilloCRMauricio LizcanoASI Sondra MacollinsAM Gustavo CamachoPEC Clara LópezED(withdrawn)31 May 2026E-14 Preliminary rapid count Thomas Greg & Sons 23,982,304 57.89%~3.0% (Historical) 9,688,361 40.90%10,661,499 43.75%1,639,685 6.92%1,009,073 4.26%225,517 0.95%206,140 0.87%28,657 0.12%14,108 0.05%12,694 0.05%13,270 0.05%53,738 0.22%19,889 0.08%5,627 0.02%—406,970 1.72%292,975 1.22%2.84%13–20 May 2026Invamer2,2242.44%44.6%31.6%14.0%2.2%2.4%1.4%0.4%0.3%0.4%0.4%0.5%0.2%0.2%2.0%13.0%Decision of vote2,3562.19%88.8%—11.2%—9–14 May 2026AtlasIntel/SEMANA 5,0391%36.0%31.5%16.0%4.7%3.4%0.4%0.0%0.1%0.3%0.0%0.1%0.0%0.1%—3.1%2.1%2.2%4.5%4–11 May 2026Fundación Génesis Crea4,3521.48%35.1%21.6%25.4%2.9%3.6%0.7%0.8%0.7%0.2%—0.2%0.1%0.1%—3.2%—5.4%13.5%15–24 April 2026Invamer3,8002%44.3%21.5%19.8%2%3%0.8%0.6%0.1%0.2%0.4%0.1%0.1%0.0%4.8%22.8%20–22 April 2026GAD31,5002%36.0%21.0%13.0%2.5%3.6%1.4%0.4%0.1%0.4%0.4%0.4%0.2%0.0%4.8%17.0%15.0%6–9 April 2026Atlas Intel/SEMANA3,6172%40.82%29.43%24.79%5.38%1.05%0.63%0%0.32%0%0%0%0.11%0%0%11.39%38.84%27.95%23.53%5.14%1.03%0.62%0%0.310%0%0%0.1%0%0%2.5%10.89%37.8%27.2%22.9%5%1%0.6%0%0.3%0%0%0%0.1%0%0%2.5%0.7%2%10.6%20 March 2026The Electoral Tribunal finalized the list of the 14 first-round candidates.March 2026CELAG --- ---47.84%18.25%24.68%23.16%40.9%15.4%21.1%3.6%1.6%0.4%0.3%0.2%0.2%0%0.9%7%3.2%4.3%19.8%19–25 March 2026Guarumo/EcoAnalítica3,736±2.2 pp42.1%22.7%22.4%19.4%37.5%20.2%19.9%3.9%2.3%1.5%1.3%0.6%0.8%0.2%0.2%0%0.1%0.5%11%17.3%17–21 March 2026CNC2,157±3 pp41.27%18.42%26.56%14.47%34.5%15.4%22.2%3.6%3.7%1.3%1%0.5%0.1%0.2%0.2%0.4%0.2%0.3%6.5%1.9%8%12.3%16–18 March 2026Noticias RCN /Gad31,200±3 pp43.21%25.93%19.75%17.28%35%21%16%3%4%1%1%0.1%0.3%1%0.1%0.2%6%6%7%15%10–12 March 2026AtlasIntel/SEMANA4,291±2 pp36.4%27.9%17.5%7.8%1.7%0.6%0%0.9%0.7%0%0.1%0.9%1.2%3.3%(Incl.)1%(Exc.)2.9%(Excluded)8.5%11–22 February 2026Invamer3,800±1.93 pp37.1%18.9%10%6.6%11.7%2.2%1.8%1.8%0.7%0.4%0.3%2.8%2.4%18.2%February 2026CELAG --- ---46.41%30.62%15.79%38.2%25.2%4.6%4.4%0.8%1%0.5%0.7%9.6%8.1%13%27 January – 4 February 2026AtlasIntel/SEMANA7,298±1 pp31.4%32.1%3.8%7.6%3.7%2.1%0.3%5.3%7.7%(Excluded)0.7%15–21 January 2026CNC/Cambio 2,202±2.9 pp28.2%15.5%9.8%3.7%0.3%0.9%2.3%16.1%7.5%12.7%14–22 January 2026Guarumo/EcoAnalítica 4,245±1.8 pp33.6%18.2%6.9%3.9%2.4%1%0 7%%0.4%0.4%0.2%0.8%13%15.4%13–15 January 2026Noticias RCN/Gad31,207±2.83 pp30%22%3%1%0.4%1%1%0.1%5%11%14%8%5–8 January 2026AtlasIntel/SEMANA4,550±1 pp26.5%28.0%5.1%9.4%2.6%0.2%%7.2%1.1%5.7%1.5%

2025