The official campaign for France's 2026 municipal elections began on March 2, involving over 50,000 lists and 900,000 candidates across 34,944 communes. The votes are scheduled for March 15 and 22, selecting mayors for the next six years. Le Monde offers in-depth coverage of more than 100 communes.
The 2026 municipal elections mark a key moment in French politics, occurring just over a year before the presidential vote. They will gauge the Rassemblement national's foothold, the status of Macronism, and rifts within the left, between La France insoumise, the Parti socialiste, and Les Ecologistes, who lead many cities.
The official campaign launched on Monday, March 2. Over 50,000 lists and 900,000 candidates are preparing in France's 34,944 communes, plus the districts of Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. The two rounds are set for March 15 and 22.
Le Monde has committed to extensive on-the-ground reporting: for months, its journalists, correspondents, political editors, reporters, and photographers have traversed the 13 metropolitan regions and several overseas communes. By the eve of the first round, over 100 articles have been published on small towns, mid-sized cities, and metropolises, detailing local stakes and encounters with incumbents, new candidates, and fierce opponents.
These elections highlight French people's strong bond with their mayors and provide insight into the country's democratic tensions and vitality ahead of major national contests.
