Will presidential elections take place in Ukraine in 2026?

Presidential elections in Ukraine in 2026 have become the subject of active domestic and international debate amid the full-scale war and the ongoing state of martial law. Current Ukrainian legislation prohibits holding elections during martial law; however, the issue of possible timelines and formats for elections is increasingly appearing on the public and diplomatic agenda.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Ukraine should hold elections even during wartime, emphasizing the importance of democratic procedures for international legitimacy and continued support. Similar signals from the current U.S. president and other international partners have increased pressure on the Ukrainian authorities regarding the future electoral cycle.

Against this backdrop, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky publicly stated that he had instructed officials to explore possible scenarios and conditions for holding elections during the war, taking into account security considerations, legal constraints, and international standards. At the same time, he stressed that any decision on elections can only be made within the framework of the Constitution and subject to adequate security guarantees.

In parallel, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine has already presented proposals for organizing elections after the termination or lifting of martial law, noting that at least several months of preparation would be required. Discussions include new voting rules, the participation of military personnel and citizens abroad, and ensuring the legitimacy of the process.

This market allows participants to assess the likelihood of whether presidential elections will take place in Ukraine in 2026, taking into account pressure from international partners, the position of the Ukrainian government, legal constraints, and the evolution of the security situation.

Conditions for resolving as “Yes”

“Take place” means:

• the official scheduling of presidential elections in accordance with Ukrainian law, and
• the actual holding of the vote (first round) within the 2026 calendar year.

Conditions for resolving as “No”

The market will resolve to “No” if:

• presidential elections are not scheduled in 2026, or
• the elections are officially postponed, canceled, or rescheduled beyond 2026, or
• no voting takes place at any time during the 2026 calendar year.

1. Martial law

The existence of martial law by itself does not determine the outcome of this market.

The resolution is based solely on whether the elections are scheduled and held.

2. Second round

For the market to resolve, it is sufficient that the first round of voting is held.

The occurrence or non-occurrence of a second round does not affect the outcome.

3. Early elections

If presidential elections are held early in 2026, the market will resolve as “Yes.”

4. Resolution sources

The outcome of this market will be determined based on:

• official announcements by the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC) — https://www.cvk.gov.ua/
• and/or official acts of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine — https://www.rada.gov.ua/
• and/or official publications in other Ukrainian government sources.

5. Market end and resolution date

The market will close and be finally resolved on