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Sweden's 2026 general election has produced a razor-thin outcome, with the centre-left opposition bloc projected to win 175 seats in the 349-member Riksdag against 174 for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's right-wing alliance. Preliminary results from the Swedish Election Authority late on Sunday 13 September 2026 showed former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson's left bloc holding a one-seat majority, but the race remained too close to call with postal and overseas ballots still to be counted.
What is at stake in Sweden's 2026 election?
The vote is Sweden's first parliamentary election since joining NATO in March 2024 and a test of whether the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats can move from outside support into formal government for the first time. Kristersson, whose minority coalition of the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals has governed since 2022 under the Tidö Agreement, promised the party cabinet seats if the right won. The election also tests Swedish far-right parties and their growing influence across Nordic politics. The campaign followed the August 2026 Fagersta school attack, which prompted several party leaders to suspend speeches and attend a joint memorial.
Key results and exit polls
An SVT exit poll of 13,709 voters initially gave the left bloc 51.3% and a projected 183 seats, against 46.8% and 166 seats for the right. But early Election Authority figures narrowed to a 175-174 split, with the Social Democrats on about 27.8%–28.4%, the Moderates on 18%–19.8% and the Sweden Democrats on 17.2%–17.7%.
- Social Democrats (S): ~28% – largest party
- Moderates (M): ~19%
- Sweden Democrats (SD): ~17.7%, down from 20.5% in 2022
- Liberals (L): hovering near the 4% threshold
Analysts cautioned that the 2022 exit poll wrongly predicted an Andersson victory, and the final result may not be confirmed until Thursday.
Left bloc vs right bloc at a glance
| Bloc | Leader | Parties | Projected seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre-left | Magdalena Andersson | Social Democrats, Greens, Left Party, Centre Party | 175 |
| Right-wing | Ulf Kristersson | Moderates, Christian Democrats, Liberals, Sweden Democrats | 174 |
How the campaign shaped the vote
Voters ranked healthcare, education, law and order, immigration, elderly care and the economy as the top issues in an August Novus poll. Kristersson campaigned on a pledge to "make Sweden great again," citing falling crime and record-low asylum numbers. The right-wing government cut annual migration from 117,000 in 2016 to 12,000 last year, a shift that has dominated European migration debates.
Andersson, prime minister from 2021 until 2022, promised higher taxes on banks and high incomes and shorter healthcare queues. Her Social Democrats have led most Swedish governments since the Second World War but face difficult coalition talks with the Greens, the Left Party and the Centre Party, which do not agree on everything.
What happens next? Coalition negotiations and implications
With the gap at just one seat, weeks or months of coalition government negotiations could follow. The fate of the Liberals, who may fall below the 4% threshold, and the distribution of 39 levelling seats will help determine the final arithmetic. If the left's lead holds, Andersson must bridge divisions among four parties; if the right edges ahead, Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson could become a minister for the first time. The result is being watched closely across Europe as a barometer of far-right support.
FAQ
Who won the Swedish election 2026?
No final winner has been declared. Preliminary results show Magdalena Andersson's centre-left bloc leading 175 seats to 174 for Ulf Kristersson's right-wing bloc, with postal and overseas ballots still outstanding.
How many seats does a party need in Sweden's Riksdag?
A party needs at least 4% of the national vote, or 12% in a single constituency, to enter the 349-seat Riksdag. A bloc needs 175 seats for a majority.
Why did the Sweden Democrats lose support?
The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats slipped from 20.5% in 2022 to about 17.7% in 2026, their first decline since entering parliament in 2010. Analysts point to voter focus on healthcare and the economy, and unease about the party entering government.
When will the final Swedish election result be known?
The Swedish Election Authority says preliminary results were released on Sunday evening, but the official result, including overseas votes, is expected within a week, possibly by Thursday 17 September 2026.
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