2026 Danish general election

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outgoing members elected members
All 179 seats in the Folketing 175 from Denmark proper, 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands 90 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	83.99% ( 0.17pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Parties in Denmark Social Democrats Mette Frederiksen 21.85 38 −12 Green Left Pia Olsen Dyhr 11.59 20 +5 Venstre Troels Lund Poulsen 10.14 18 −5 Liberal Alliance Alex Vanopslagh 9.37 16 +2 DPP Morten Messerschmidt 9.10 16 +11 Moderates Lars Løkke Rasmussen 7.68 14 −2 Conservatives Mona Juul 7.59 13 +3 Red–Green Pelle Dragsted[a] 6.34 11 +2 Social Liberals Martin Lidegaard 5.82 10 +3 Denmark Democrats Inger Støjberg 5.75 10 −4 The Alternative Franciska Rosenkilde 2.58 5 −1 Citizens' Party Lars Boje Mathiesen 2.13 4 New Parties in the Faroe Islands Social Democratic Aksel V. Johannesen 44.91 1 0 Union Bárður á Steig Nielsen 25.19 1 0 Parties in Greenland Inuit Ataqatigiit Múte Bourup Egede 29.24 1 0 Naleraq Pele Broberg 25.12 1 +1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Most voted-for bloc by nomination district and constituency Most voted-for party by nomination district and constituency Distribution of constituency and levelling seats Government before Government after election Frederiksen II S–V–M TBD

General elections were held in Denmark on 24 March 2026. All 179 seats in the Folketing were up for election, including 175 in Denmark proper, 2 in Greenland, and 2 in the Faroe Islands (the three entities making up the Danish Realm). It was the first election during Frederik X's reign, who became king in 2024 following the abdication of Margrethe II.

The Social Democrats, which led the outgoing Frederiksen II Cabinet, won the most seats of any party, with 38 seats; however, their vote share of 21.9% was their lowest finish since 1903. Venstre and the Moderates, the two other coalition partners, also lost seats. Among the parties that made significant gains were the Green Left, which became the second-largest party, and the Danish People's Party.

The 2022 Danish general election, held on 31 October in the Faroe Islands and on 1 November in Denmark and Greenland, led to a narrow victory for the red bloc.^[1] Following the election, a centrist government (Frederiksen II Cabinet), led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and consisting of the Social Democrats (A), Venstre (V) and the Moderates (M), was established.^[2]

In the 2025 Danish local elections, the governing parties suffered significant losses, and the Social Democrats lost in Copenhagen after more than 100 years.^[3] The governing coalition was thus unpopular going into 2026; however, the role and threats of US President Donald Trump, his proposed United States acquisition of Greenland, and the Greenland crisis affected the decision to hold a snap election,^[4][5][6] and gave the Social Democrats, and Frederiksen in particular who stood up to Trump,^[7][8] a political boost through the rally 'round the flag effect,^[9][10] as foreign and security issues, in addition to the economy, the cost of living, the environment, and immigration, became significant concerns among voters.^[11]

Frederiksen was initially the only official candidate to become Prime Minister of Denmark. The Red–Green Alliance (Ø) stated that a red bloc coalition had to be proposed if they were to support the Social Democrats.^[12] The Green Left (F) won the most votes in the 2024 European parliament election in Denmark, and Pia Olsen Dyhr argued that the largest party in the red bloc should become prime minister.^[13] In December 2025, the Red–Green Alliance said that it preferred a Green Left prime minister over a Social Democratic one,^[12] although the Green Left did not perceive itself as about to obtain the position.^[14]

As multiple early 2024 polls saw the Liberal Alliance (I) being the largest in the blue bloc, political analysts predicted Alex Vanopslagh as a possible Prime Minister candidate.^[15][16] In November 2024, Prime Minister Frederiksen and Danish People's Party (O) leader Morten Messerschmidt commented on their expectation that the former Prime Minister and Moderates leader Lars Løkke Rasmussen could try to regain the position.^[17] On 9 December 2025, Citizens' Party leader Lars Boje Mathiesen announced his candidacy for Prime Minister as there was then no official conservative candidate for Prime Minister. However, with the party polling near the 2% threshold, it was considered unlikely that Mathiesen could be Prime Minister.^[18]

On 26 February 2026, Venstre leader and defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen officially announced that he was making himself available to lead a blue bloc government and declared his intention to become Prime Minister. In his announcement, Poulsen emphasized national security, economic responsibility, strengthening core welfare services, tightening immigration policy, improving Denmark's competitiveness, and maintaining defence capabilities in response to changing geopolitical conditions. He cited his experience across seven ministerial posts over two decades and stated that he would seek broad parliamentary cooperation if given the mandate to form a government.^[19] Already in 2025, the Conservative People's Party (C) and the Danish People's Party had endorsed Poulsen as the preferred Prime Minister candidate of the blue bloc.^[20][21]

The 179 members of the Folketing are elected in Denmark (175). There are four North Atlantic mandates; the Faroe Islands (2), and Greenland (2). The 175 seats in Denmark include 135 seats elected in ten multi-member constituencies of Denmark by proportional representation, using the d'Hondt method (kredsmandater), and 40 leveling seats, allocated to parties in order to address any imbalance in the distribution of the constituency seats (tillægsmandater). The main threshold for levelling seats is 2%.^[22][23]

Distribution of seats for 2026 election^[24][25]

Constituency	Seats	Division	Leveling seats
Copenhagen	17	Capital	12
Greater Copenhagen	11
North Zealand	10
Bornholm	2
Zealand	20	Zealand & Southern Denmark	14
Funen	12
South Jutland	17
East Jutland	19	Mid & Northern Jutland	14
West Jutland	13
North Jutland	14
Faroe Islands	2
Greenland	2

The election campaign began on 26 February 2026, when Prime Minister Frederiksen announced that the election had been called.^[26][27]

The table's below lists parties represented in the Folketing

See also: List of members of the Folketing, 2022–2026

Name			Ideologies	Leader	2022 result		Seats at dissolution
					Votes (%)	Seats
	A	Social Democrats Socialdemokratiet	Social democracy	Mette Frederiksen	27.54%	50 / 179	50 / 179
	V	Venstre Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti	Conservative liberalism Agrarianism (Nordic)	Troels Lund Poulsen	13.31%	23 / 179	23 / 179
	M	Moderates Moderaterne	Liberalism Centrism	Lars Løkke Rasmussen	9.27%	16 / 179	12 / 179
	F	Green Left Socialistisk Folkeparti	Green politics Popular socialism	Pia Olsen Dyhr	8.29%	15 / 179	15 / 179
	Æ	Denmark Democrats Danmarksdemokraterne	Right-wing populism Anti-immigration	Inger Støjberg	8.08%	14 / 179	16 / 179
	I	Liberal Alliance Liberal Alliance	Right-libertarianism Classical liberalism	Alex Vanopslagh	7.87%	14 / 179	15 / 179
	C	Conservative People's Party Det Konservative Folkeparti	Green conservatism Liberal conservatism	Mona Juul	5.51%	10 / 179	10 / 179
	Ø	Red–Green Alliance Enhedslisten – De Rød-Grønne	Eco-socialism Anti-capitalism	Collective leadership Political spokesperson: Pelle Dragsted	5.16%	9 / 179	9 / 179
	B	Social Liberals Det Radikale Venstre	Social liberalism	Martin Lidegaard	3.79%	7 / 179	6 / 179
	D	New Right Nye Borgerlige	National conservatism Economic liberalism Anti-immigration	Susanne Borggard	3.66%	6 / 179	0 / 179
	Å	The Alternative Alternativet	Green politics Pro-Europeanism	Franciska Rosenkilde	3.33%	6 / 179	6 / 179
	O	Danish People's Party Dansk Folkeparti	Danish nationalism National conservatism Anti-immigration	Morten Messerschmidt	2.63%	5 / 179	7 / 179
	H	Citizens' Party Borgernes Parti	Right-wing populism Anti-immigration Anti-Islam	Lars Boje Mathiesen			1 / 179
	Ind.	Independent			0.12%	0 / 179	5 / 179

Name			Ideologies	Leader	2022 result		Seats at dissolution
					Votes (%)	Seats
	SP	Union Party Sambandsflokkurin	Conservative liberalism	Bárður á Steig Nielsen	30.19%	1 / 179	1 / 179
	JF	Social Democratic Party Javnaðarflokkurin	Social democracy	Aksel V. Johannesen	28.20%	1 / 179	1 / 179

Name			Ideologies	Leader	2022 result		Seats at dissolution
					Votes (%)	Seats
	SIU	Forward Siumut	Social democracy	Erik Jensen	38.58%	1 / 179	0 / 179
	IA	Community of the People Inuit Ataqatigiit	Democratic socialism	Múte Bourup Egede	25.21%	1 / 179	1 / 179
	N	Point of Orientation Naleraq	Populism	Pele Broberg	12.6%	0 / 179	1 / 179

Party		Original slogan	English translation
	Social Democrats	Vi har et ansvar for hinanden[28]	We have a responsibility to each other
	Social Liberals	Der er brug for en plan B[28]	There is a need for a plan B
	Conservatives	Borgerlige stemmer der arbejder[29]	Non-socialist (lit. 'bourgeois') votes that work
	Green Left	En sikker rød og grøn stemme[30]	A safe red and green vote
	Citizens' Party	Magten tilbage til borgerne[31]	Power back to the citizens
	Liberal Alliance	En frisk start[28]	A fresh start
	Moderates	Samler – når andre splitter[32]	Unites – when others divide
	Danish People's Party	Skal vi gøre noget ved det?[33]	Should we do something about it?
	Venstre	Danmark i sikre hænder[28]	Denmark in safe hands
	Denmark Democrats	Et Danmark i bedre balance[34]	A Denmark in better balance
	Red–Green Alliance	Et Danmark du har råd til[35]	A Denmark you can afford
	The Alternative	Vi vil give håbet på fremtiden tilbage[36]	We will give back the hope for the future

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Denmark proper
	Social Democrats	779,252	21.84	38	–12
	Green Left	413,306	11.58	20	+5
	Venstre	361,689	10.14	18	–5
	Liberal Alliance	334,421	9.37	16	+2
	Danish People's Party	324,518	9.10	16	+11
	Moderates	274,775	7.70	14	–2
	Conservative People's Party	270,749	7.59	13	+3
	Red–Green Alliance	226,037	6.34	11	+2
	Danish Social Liberal Party	207,442	5.81	10	+3
	Denmark Democrats	205,302	5.75	10	–4
	The Alternative	91,770	2.57	5	–1
	Citizens' Party	75,928	2.13	4	+4
	Independents	2,436	0.07	0	0
Total		3,567,625	100.00	175	0
Valid votes		3,567,625	98.71
Invalid votes		9,050	0.25
Blank votes		37,597	1.04
Total votes		3,614,272	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,303,429	83.99
Source: dst.dk, dr.dk
Faroe Islands
	Social Democratic Party	13,088	44.91	1	0
	Union Party	7,342	25.19	1	0
	People's Party	4,383	15.04	0	0
	Republic	3,891	13.35	0	0
	Centre Party	437	1.50	0	0
Total		29,141	100.00	2	0
Valid votes		29,141	99.13
Invalid votes		69	0.23
Blank votes		188	0.64
Total votes		29,398	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		38,955	75.47
Source: kvf.fo
Greenland
	Inuit Ataqatigiit	6,133	29.24	1	0
	Naleraq	5,268	25.12	1	+1
	Democrats	3,767	17.96	0	0
	Siumut	3,515	16.76	0	–1
	Atassut	2,290	10.92	0	0
Total		20,973	100.00	2	0
Valid votes		20,973	97.88
Invalid votes		158	0.74
Blank votes		297	1.39
Total votes		21,428	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		40,952	52.32
Source: qinersineq.gl

Exit polls and early results showed that the Social Democrats remained the most voted party but that Prime Minister Frederiksen lacked a clear majority;^[42] at 21.9%, it was the party's worst result since the 1903 Danish Folketing election.^[43][44] The two other governing parties also suffered losses, with the incumbent government losing its majority; as a result and as is customary, Frederiksen took a caretaker government role and resigned.^[45][46] The Moderates favoured a centrist government with the Social Democrats, while Venstre preferred a government with the blue bloc and opposed participation in another government led by the Social Democrats.^[47] The red bloc won a plurality of seats but failed to secure a majority. Despite failing to obtain a majority, one analysis of the result was that the left-leaning parties showed a positive trend in Europe where "standing up to Trump-style politics" or to Trump himself can be a "winning strategy", with Frederiksen favoured to win a third term.^[48] The Green Left gained five seats, becoming the second-largest party in the Folketing with 20 seats. Party leader Pia Olsen Dyhr said of the party's "historic" success that the Danish people had provided it with a mandate and she was "ready to negotiate"; however, she made it clear that if welfare and the green transition were not prioritised, the party would remain in opposition.^[49] The Danish People's Party tripled its share of the vote.^[50]

Election results concluded with neither the red or blue bloc getting a majority and the Moderates (the junior partner of the incumbent government) becoming a potential kingmaker.^[51] Conversations to start coalition talks opened on 25 March 2026. Venstre have ruled out a continuation of a government with the Social Democrats, while the Moderates favoured a continuation of a centrist government with the Social Democrats.^[52] A formateur would first need to be appointed by King Frederik X, following consultations with all parties, to lead negotiations and determine which parties can form a coalition. Frederiksen stated that if she is tasked, she would look to form a coalition with left-leaning parties, possibly with the Green Left and the centrist Social Liberals, that could potentially be supported by the Moderates and possibly also the Conservatives, who expressed willingness and have not ruled out negotiations to support Frederiksen, which would bring the coalition to a majority.^[53][54]

Possible governments[55][56][57]	Seats
Total seats	179
Governments with a majority (90 or more seats)
V–I–O–M–C–B–Æ	97
S–F–M–C–B	95
S–V–M–C–B	93
Governments without a majority (89 or fewer seats)
S–F–Ø–B–Å	84
S–F–M–B	82
S–F–M	72
S–F–B	68
V–I–M–C	61
S	38

With both red bloc and blue bloc short of a majority, the Moderates emerged as potential kingmakers.^[58] On 25 March, following the announcement of the election results, the parties submitted their recommendations for who should be the formateur.^[59][60] Frederiksen was announced as formateur later that day.^[61][62]

King's Round on 25 March
Party		Party leader	Seats	Recommended
	Social Democrats	Mette Frederiksen	38	Frederiksen
	Green Left	Pia Olsen Dyhr	20	Frederiksen
	Venstre	Troels Lund Poulsen	18	Poulsen
	Liberal Alliance	Alex Vanopslagh	16	Poulsen
	Danish People's Party	Morten Messerschmidt	16	Poulsen
	Moderates	Lars Løkke Rasmussen	14	Rasmussen
	Conservative	Mona Juul	13	Poulsen
	Red–Green	Pelle Dragsted[a]	11	Frederiksen
	Social Liberal	Martin Lidegaard	10	Frederiksen
	Denmark Democrats	Inger Støjberg	10	Poulsen
	The Alternative	Franciska Rosenkilde	5	Frederiksen
	Citizens' Party	Lars Boje Mathiesen	4	No one
	Faroese Social Democratic	Aksel V. Johannesen	1	Frederiksen

On 25 March 2026, King Frederik X requested Prime Minister Frederiksen, after being appointed as formateur, to lead negotiations with the Green Left and the Social Liberals to try to form a coalition. Frederiksen said she favoured a coalition with the five red-bloc parties and called it the "most realistic option", which would consist of the Social Democrats, Green Left, Red–Green Alliance, Social Liberals, and Alternative, with the Moderates joining in as well. While this is mathematically possible, the Moderates leader Rasmussen is not in favour of backing a red-bloc or a blue-bloc government and prefers a compromise on parties from both blocs; it remained unclear if he would accept negotiations to back solely a red-bloc government or a blue-bloc government. Throughout the election period, Rasmussen had ruled out forming a government that includes the Red–Green Alliance or one that includes the Danish People's Party.^[63][64]

On 31 March 2026, the MP-elect from the Faroese Social Democratic Party, Sjúrður Skaale endorsed Frederiksen for the Prime Minister post.^[65] It was also reported that Greenland's two elected MPs, Naaja Nathanielsen from Inuit Ataqatigiit and Qarsoq Høegh-Dam from Naleraq are also participating in coalition talks with Frederiksen and are seeking more Greenlandic autonomy on foreign policy, following U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated threats to annex the territory.^[66]

On 10 April 2026, it was reported that Rasmussen had put a block on future coalition negotiations involving a centre-left government, which would have been dependent on the Red-Green Alliance, putting a "pause" on such government formation, after yielding little success. The reasoning behind this was reportedly disagreements on economic policy and he described a government involving the Red-Green Alliance as "irresponsible and therefore impossible". Rasmussen declared he preferred a coalition involving two red parties (Social Democrats and Social Liberals), two blue parties (Venstre and Conservatives), and his own Moderates in the next government, that would be formed "around the centre", which mathematically would give them a majority.

Rasmussen said he was willing to still negotiate with Frederiksen as formateur, but on the condition that she invite Venstre for talks, who had previously ruled out working with her, but later appeared to have softened their stance on forming a government with Frederiksen, based on the Venstre's deputy chairman, Stephanie Lose's recent interview, where she appeared a "little more open for talks", as well as the Conservatives, who said they were willing to negotiate with Frederiksen. However, it was reported that talks on forming a centre-left government backed by the Red-Green Alliance can proceed and may be revisited in the future, if talks with the blue-parties fail, indicating that Rasmussen will be testing to see, if Venstre are willing to compromise, similar to the pressure, that he applied on the Social Democrats. Rasmussen stated that after he gave his ultimatum on future talks, he was given the impression that Frederiksen was reaching out to Venstre and Conservatives to invite them for talks.

Following Rasmussen's announcement, the leader of Venstre, Troels Lund Poulsen called on Rasmussen to form a centre-right government without the Social Democrats and with the blue-bloc parties instead, where economic issues can align, which was followed by Conservative leader Mona Juul stating she was seeking for Rasmussen to give "the blues' a chance" on forming a coalition. However, Rasmussen indicated he does not intend to go that route and instead interpreted Poulsen's statements as a sign of willingness to negotiate, in broader context.

After Rasmussen's announcement, Frederiksen met with red-bloc parties for negotiations and there was a clear split stance on how the government should be formed. While it was not their first preference, the Social Democrats and the Social Liberals left the door open and expressed willingness to negotiate such government formation, while the leaders of the Green-Left, Red-Green Alliance, and Alternative remained optimistic and positive that a centre-left government with the Moderates can be formed, but said they would not join any government involving Venstre and Conservatives. Later that day, Venstre confirmed they would attend the talks, as well as the Conservatives.^[67][68][69]

On 8 May, Rasmussen put forward Troels Lund Poulsen as the new formateur, stating that "We need to have a change of direction, if there needs to be progress made." He however did not exclude the possibility of supporting Frederiksen as prime minister, and after his decision, many blue bloc parties once again endorsed Poulsen as formateur, while the Danish People's Party reaffirmed that they would not support any government with Rasmussen's party, the Moderates in it. The negotiating left wing parties stated their disappointment in Rasmussen's choice to look at Poulsen as formateur, yet expressed willingness to negotiate again if Rasmussen went back to the left wing parties. Frederiksen, with no possible government left to form without the Moderates, met with the king at Amalienborg and a new King's Round was initiated, where each party would again submit who they think should be formateur.

Later during the evening, Poulsen was confirmed to be the next formateur, effectively restarting government negotiations. Poulsen confirmed that government negotiations would resume on 11 May, and would invite all parties while also acknowledging that it seems like a difficult task, but excited to negotiate.^[70]

King's Round on 8 May
Party		Party leader	Seats	Recommended
	Social Democrats	Mette Frederiksen	38	Frederiksen
	Green Left	Pia Olsen Dyhr	20	Frederiksen
	Venstre	Troels Lund Poulsen	18	Poulsen
	Danish People's Party	Morten Messerschmidt	16	Poulsen
	Liberal Alliance	Alex Vanopslagh	15	Poulsen
	Moderates	Lars Løkke Rasmussen	14	Poulsen
	Conservative	Mona Juul	13	Poulsen
	Red–Green	Pelle Dragsted[a]	11	Frederiksen
	Social Liberal	Martin Lidegaard	10	Frederiksen
	Denmark Democrats	Inger Støjberg	10	Poulsen
	The Alternative	Franciska Rosenkilde	5	Frederiksen
	Citizens' Party	Lars Boje Mathiesen	1	Poulsen

• 2026 Faroese general election, held two days afterwards in the Faroe Islands

• Results of the Danish general election 2026 at The Danish Parliament