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2026 Portuguese presidential election

← 2021 18 January 2026 (first round) 8 February 2026 (second round)[a] 2031 →
Opinion polls
Registered	11,009,803 ( 1.50pp)
Turnout	52.39% (first round) 13.13pp 50.08% (second round)
Reporting	99.41% as of12 February, 19:16WET
Candidate António José Seguro André Ventura Party PS Supported by: Volt CH Popular vote 3,484,695 1,729,894 Percentage 66.83% 33.17%
First round results bydistrict and municipality. Second round results bydistrict and municipality. Seguro   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Ventura   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   50–60% Mendes   20–30%   30–40%
President before election Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa PSD President-elect António José Seguro PS

Presidential elections were held inPortugal in 2026, with a first round on 18 January and a second round on 8 February.^[2][3] The incumbent president,Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, supported by theSocial Democratic Party (PSD), had already served two consecutive terms, so he was not eligible for re-election.

Fourteen potential candidates submitted formal applications, of which eleven were certified to appear on the ballot paper.^[4][5] They included the former coordinator ofPortugal's COVID-19 vaccination task forceHenrique Gouveia e Melo,^[6] who ran as anindependent, and former PSD leaderLuís Marques Mendes.^[7] TheSocialist Party (PS) supported the campaign of their former party leaderAntónio José Seguro.^[8][9][10]André Ventura, the leader ofChega (CH), also stood.^[11] Other candidates supported by parties were the MEPsJoão Cotrim de Figueiredo forLiberal Initiative (IL) andCatarina Martins forLeft Bloc (BE); the former MPAntónio Filipe for thePortuguese Communist Party (PCP); and the MPJorge Pinto forLIVRE (L).

In the first round, Seguro (PS) won the most votes with 31%, while Ventura (CH) came second with 23.5%.^[12] Because no candidate reached the required 50% threshold, Seguro and Ventura faced each other in a second round run-off on 8 February.^[13] This was only the second time that a direct Portuguese presidential election went to a second round, afterthe 1986 election.^[14]

Candidates eliminated in the first round included Cotrim de Figueiredo (IL) who came third with 16%, and Gouveia e Melo (independent) fourth with 12%. Marques Mendes (PSD) received 11%, the lowest in Portuguese history for a government supported presidential candidate, surpassing the previous negative record set byMário Soares in2006.^[15] Catarina Martins (BE) received 2%, the lowest for a female candidate in a presidential election,^[16] while António Filipe (PCP) received less than 2%, the Communists' worst result in a presidential election.^[17]

Overall voter turnout (including overseas) in the first round was 52 percent, thirteenpercentage points higher than the previous election.^[18] In Portugal itself, turnout was 61.50 percent, an increase of 16.1 percentage points compared to 2021,^[19] and the highestsince 2006.^[18] Seguro defeated Ventura by a wide margin on the second round, 67% to 33%,^[20] and became the most voted candidate ever in a Portuguese election by surpassing Soares'1991 vote total record.^[21] Overall turnout in the second round dropped to 50.1%, although the number is not final yet.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected in January 2021, securing nearly 61 percent of the votes in the first round. He took the oath of office on 9 March 2021, and continued the period ofcohabitation withSocialist Party Prime MinisterAntónio Costa, which lasted until April 2024. This cohabitation ended after theMarch 2024 elections, which sawLuís Montenegro, from theSocial Democratic Party (the same party as the President), nominated as prime minister.

Within the Portuguese political system, the president serves as thehead of state with primarily ceremonial duties, though the president holds some political influence and can dissolve Parliament during a crisis. The president resides at theBelém Palace in Lisbon. Since the Carnation Revolution, all Portuguese presidents have been re-elected for a second term and never tried a third, with one exception:Mário Soares (PS), who sought a non-consecutive third term in the2006 presidential election but lost. Thus, every president since 1976 has served exactly two terms. During his decade-long presidency, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa suffereda considerable decline in his public approval according to polling.

AdmiralHenrique Gouveia e Melo, who rose to prominence as the coordinator of Portugal'sCOVID-19 Vaccination Task Force,^[22] quickly emerged as a leading candidate in early polling as far back as mid-2022.^[23] Over the next two years, he repeatedly oscillated in his public statements regarding his intentions to run, fueling speculation.^[24][25][26] By November 2024, having declined to be renominated asChief of the Naval Staff, Gouveia e Melo started preparing his path for the presidency, signaling the support from local politicians^[27] and stating that he didn't want the support of any party.^[28] He ultimately announced his candidacy in May 2025.^[6]

On the traditional centre-right, theSocial Democratic Party had several high-profile potential candidates for the presidency, including the former prime ministersPedro Passos Coelho andPedro Santana Lopes,^[29] as well as former party leadersLuís Marques Mendes andRui Rio, and former MinisterLeonor Beleza.^[30] Among these, Marques Mendes soon emerged as the leading candidate, announcing his candidacy in February 2025^[7] and receiving the support of the party in May 2025.^[31] Meanwhile, theCDS–PP, the junior partner of PSD in theAD coalition, hoped that the former leader and former deputy prime minister,Paulo Portas, would run^[32] but, after he declined to seek the presidency,^[33] CDS declared support for Marques Mendes, despite internal divisions.^[34]

On the centre-left,Pedro Nuno Santos announced in January 2024, after being elected asSecretary-general of the Socialist Party, that he wanted the party to support a presidential candidate in the 2026 election,^[35] as the last time the PS had supported a candidate wasManuel Alegre in the2011 presidential election. Multiple socialist figures soon emerged as potential contenders, but, as the political landscape changed, many of these started losing momentum. Formerpresident of the Assembly of the Republic,Augusto Santos Silva, was considered as a strong candidate^[36] until he lost his seat as an MP in theMarch 2024 legislative election.^[37] The governor of theBank of Portugal,Mário Centeno, was also considered as a strong contender,^[38] due to his popularity asMinister of Finance, until he declined to run in January 2025.^[39]

By then, two main candidates emerged to represent the traditional left, the former PS leader,António José Seguro, who had been out of politics since 2014, and the former director-general of theInternational Organization for Migration,António Vitorino, as a group of high-profile socialists rejected the possibility of Seguro being the party's candidate,^[40][41] even suggesting an internal referendum to decide the party's presidential candidate,^[42] an idea that was ultimately rejected. Vitorino, who had by then failed to gain much support within the party's leadership as was expected,^[43] ended up backing away from the race following the poor results of the PS in theMay 2025 legislative election,^[44] paving the way for Seguro as the clear favorite to receive the party's support in the presidential election.^[45] Despite the attempt from Seguro's opponents to draft the runner-up of the2016 presidential election,António Sampaio da Nóvoa,^[46] and a final failed effort from Santos Silva to gain support to run,^[47] António José Seguro ended up announcing his candidacy in June 2025,^[48] receiving an almost unanimous support of the PS following the2025 Portuguese local elections.^[49]

On the left of the PS, the absence of Sampaio da Nóvoa from the race eliminated the prospects for a united left front,^[50] prompting each party to run their own candidates, despite attempts from Seguro supporters for a single left-wing candidacy.^[51][52][53] TheCommunist Party announced the candidacy of former vice president of theAssembly of the Republic,António Filipe, in June 2025,^[54] with Filipe resolutely stating that he would not withraw from the race.^[55]Catarina Martins, former leader of theLeft Bloc, and incumbentMEP, entered the race in September 2025,^[56] followed in October byJorge Pinto, aLIVRE MP fromPorto.^[57]André Ventura, the leader of theradical right-wing populistChega, and a candidate in theprevious presidential election, announced his candidacy in January 2025.^[58] Following unprecedentedly strong results in theMay 2025 legislative election, that made him theleader of the opposition, Ventura considered alternative candidates,^[59] such as Passos Coelho,^[60] the former CDS leaderManuel Monteiro,^[61] Major general Isidro Morais Pereira,^[62] and even considered the idea of supporting Gouveia e Melo.^[63] Nonetheless, Ventura ended up confirming his own candidacy in September 2025.^[11]

For the liberals, withRui Rocha's re-election as leader of theLiberal Initiative, parliamentary leaderMariana Leitão was initially designated as the party's presidential candidate.^[64] However, Rocha later resigned as party leader following the 2025 legislative election, and Leitão shifted her focus to run for the liberals' leadership, withdrawing from the presidential race.^[65] In August, former leader and incumbent liberal MEP,João Cotrim de Figueiredo, announced his candidacy,^[66] becoming a major right-wing contender, precluding figures, like outgoing mayor of PortoRui Moreira, from entering the race.^[67] BothPeople Animals Nature andTogether for the People decided not to present or back any candidate for the first round of the election,^[68][69] while PAN has said they would likely support a candidate in the second round.^[70] Despite that, bothInês Sousa Real andFilipe Sousa, sole deputies from both parties, supported Seguro in the first round.^[71]

Early voting proving stamp for the 2026 presidential election.

To stand for election, candidates must be of Portuguese origin and over 35 years old, gather 7,500 signatures of support one month before the election, and submit them to theConstitutional Court of Portugal. Then, the Constitutional Court has to certify if the candidacies submitted meet the requirements to appear on the ballot.^[72] A candidate must receive a majority of votes (50% plus one vote) to be elected. If no candidate achieves a majority in the first round, arunoff election (i.e., second round, held between the two candidates who receive the most votes in the first round) has to be held.^[72] The highest number of candidacies ever accepted was ten, in 2016. Since theCarnation Revolution, there has only ever been a single runoff election, in the1986 Portuguese presidential election, whenDiogo Freitas do Amaral (46.3% of votes in the first round and 48.8% in the second) lost toMário Soares (25.4% in the first round and 51.2% in the second).

Voters were also able tovote early, with voting starting on 5 January for hospitalized and incarcerated voters and on 6 January for Portuguese citizens living abroad, ending for both groups on 8 January..^[73] For citizens living in Portugal early voting occurred on 11 January, one week before election day, with voters having to register between 4 and 8 January to be eligible to cast an early ballot.^[74] By 8 January deadline, 218,481 voters (around 2% of the total of voters) had requested to vote early, a number lower than that recorded in 2021, during theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[75] For the second round, 308,501 voters (around 3% of the total of voters) requested to cast an early ballot on 1 February, a considerably larger number than in the first round, with registration having been open between 24 and 29 January.^[76]

Candidates who formalized their candidacy and submitted enough signatures to theConstitutional Court that were accepted. The deadline to submit candidacies to the Court was 18 December 2025.^[77] Candidates are ordered by how they appeared on the ballot paper.^[4]

Candidate		Party support	Political office(s)	Details	Campaign announced	Candidacy formalized	Ref.
António José Seguro (63)		Socialist Party  Volt Portugal	Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (2011–2014) Member of theCouncil of State (2011–2014) President of theSocialist Party Parliamentary Group (2004–2005) Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister (2001–2002) Other offices Member of the European Parliament (1999–2001) Secretary of State Assistant to the Prime Minister (1997–1999) Secretary of State for Youth Affairs (1995–1997) Member of Parliament forBraga (2005–2014) Member of Parliament forLisbon (2002–2005) Member of Parliament forGuarda (1995–1999) Member of Parliament forPorto (1991–1995)	Socialist Party member; political commentator onCNN Portugal; university professor	15 June 2025 Website	15 December 2025 10,000 signatures	[78][48][49][79][80]
André Ventura (43)		CHEGA	Leader of the Opposition (since 2025) President ofCHEGA (since 2019) Member of theCouncil of State (since 2024) Member of Parliament forLisbon (since 2019)	Founder of CHEGA; candidate in the2021 presidential election	4 January 2025 Website	15 December 2025 14,200 signatures	[58][59][11][81][82]

Candidate		Party support	Political office(s)	Details	Campaign announced	Candidacy formalized	Ref.
André Pestana (49)		Socialist Alternative Movement	None	Teacher; trade unionist; formerLeft Bloc andSocialist Alternative Movement member	21 December 2024 Website	15 December 2025 8,000 signatures	[83][84][85][86][87]
Jorge Pinto (38)		LIVRE	Member of Parliament forPorto (since 2024)	LIVRE member and founder;environmental engineer; writer	22 October 2025 Website	17 December 2025 ~10,000 signatures	[57][88][89][90]
Manuel João Vieira (63)		None	None	Independent;satirical politician; singer; failed candidate in the2001,2011 and2016 presidential elections	22 September 2025 Website	3 December 2025 12,502 signatures	[91][92][93]
Catarina Martins (52)		Left Bloc	Member of the European Parliament (since 2024) Coordinator of theLeft Bloc (2012–2023) Member of Parliament forPorto (2009–2023)	Left Bloc member since 2010; actress	10 September 2025 Website	10 December 2025 ~9,500 signatures	[56][94][95]
João Cotrim de Figueiredo (64)		Liberal Initiative	Member of the European Parliament (since 2024) President of theLiberal Initiative (2019–2023) Member of Parliament forLisbon (2019–2024)	Liberal Initiative member; businessman; former President of Turismo de Portugal (2013–2016)	13 August 2025 Website	3 November 2025 ~9,000 signatures	[66][96][97]
Humberto Correia (64)		None	None	Independent; painter and writer; candidate for Mayor ofFaro in the2017 local election	7 May 2021 Website	4 December 2025 9,490 signatures	[98][99]
Luís Marques Mendes (68)		Social Democratic Party  CDS – People's Party	Member of theCouncil of State (since 2011) President of the Social Democratic Party (2005–2007) Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (2002–2004) Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister (1992–1995) Other offices President of the Parliamentary Group of theSocial Democratic Party (1995–1996) Secretary of State for thePresidency of the Council of Ministers (1987–1992) Member of Parliament forAveiro (1999–2007) Member of Parliament forBraga (1995–1999) Deputy Mayor ofFafe (1976–1985)	Social Democratic Party member from 1974 to 2025;[b] political commentator onSIC	6 February 2025 Website	17 December 2025 9,350 signatures	[7][100][31][34][101]
António Filipe (62)		Portuguese Communist Party  Ecologist Party "The Greens"	Vice President of theAssembly of the Republic (2002–2009; 2011–2015; 2019–2022) Member of Parliament forLisbon (1987–2009; 2024–2025) Member of Parliament forSantarém (2009–2022)	Portuguese Communist Party member;jurist; university professor	29 June 2025 Website	4 December 2025 12,888 signatures	[54][102][103][104]
Henrique Gouveia e Melo (65)		People's Monarchist Party	Chief of the Naval Staff (2021–2024) Coordinator of theCOVID-19 Vaccination Plan Task Force (2021) Commander of theEuropean Maritime Force (2017–2019)	Independent;admiral; retiredNavy officer	29 May 2025 Website	10 December 2025 ~10,000 signatures	[6][105][106][107]

• Ricardo Sousa – former City Councillor inParedes (2021–2025)(rejected for lack of enough valid signatures);^[108][5]
• Joana Amaral Dias – supported by the National Democratic Alternative (ADN); formerMP (2003)(rejected for lack of legal documents and enough valid signatures);^[108][5]
• José Cardoso – supported by the Liberal Social Party (PLS); President of the PLS since 2025(rejected for lack of enough valid signatures).^[108][5]

• Mariana Leitão – incumbent President of theLiberal Initiative (since 2025); incumbent MP (since 2024)^[64][65](endorsedCotrim)^[146]
• Tim Vieira – businessman; investor on the TV showShark Tank onSIC; founder of Brave Generation Academy^[147][148]
• Pedro Tinoco de Faria [pt] – retiredLieutenant colonel; businessman; writer;^[149][150](endorsedVentura, became his campaign chair)^[151]
• Vitorino Silva – former President ofReact, Include, Recycle (2019–2022); former President of the Parish Council ofRans (1994–2002); candidate in the2016 and2021 presidential elections^[152](endorsedSeguro)

• Ana Gomes – formerMEP (2014–2019); finished in second place in theprevious presidential election^{[153][154][155]}(endorsed António José Seguro)^[156]
• António Costa – incumbentpresident of the European Council since 2024; formerprime minister (2015–2024); formersecretary-general of the Socialist Party (PS) (2014–2024); minister in the 13th, 14th and 17th governments; former MP (1991–2005; 2015–2024)^{[157][158][159]}
• António Guterres – incumbentSecretary-General of the United Nations since 2017; formerprime minister (1995–2002); formersecretary-general of the Socialist Party (PS) (1992–2002); former MP (1976–2002)^{[160][161][162]}
• António Sampaio da Nóvoa – former member of theCouncil of State (2022–2024); former Permanent Delegate toUNESCO (2018–2021); former rector of theUniversity of Lisbon (2006–2013); finished in second place in the2016 presidential election^{[163][164][165][166][167]}
• António Vitorino – former director-general of theInternational Organization for Migration (2018–2023); formerEuropean Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs (1999–2004); formerminister of the presidency andof defence (1995–1997); former judge of theConstitutional Court (1989–1994); former MP (1980–1989, 1995–1999, 2005–2009)^{[168][169][170][44]}
• Augusto Santos Silva – formerpresident of the Assembly of the Republic (2022–2024); minister in the 14th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd governments; former MP (1995–2024)^{[36][171][172][47]}(endorsed António José Seguro)^[173]
• Carlos César – incumbent member of theCouncil of State since 2016; incumbent President of theSocialist Party since 2014; formerpresident of the Regional Government of the Azores (1996–2012); former MP (1987–1991; 2015–2019)^[174][175](endorsed António José Seguro)^[176]
• Carlos Moedas – incumbentmayor of Lisbon since 2021; member of theCouncil of State since 2024; formerEuropean Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation (2014–2019); former MP (2011–2014)^[177][178](endorsed Luís Marques Mendes)^[179]
• Cristina Ferreira – television presenter; businesswoman; celebrity^[180]
• Elisa Ferreira – formerEuropean Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms (2019–2024); minister in the 13th and 14th governments; formerMEP (2004–2016); former MP (2002–2004)^{[181][182][183]}
• Fernando Medina – formerminister of finance (2022–2024); formermayor of Lisbon (2015–2021)^[184][185](endorsed António José Seguro)^[186]
• Francisco Assis –MEP since 2024 (and previously in 2004–2009 and 2014–2019); former MP (1995–2004; 2009–2014; 2024); former mayor ofAmarante (1989–1995)^[187][188](endorsed António José Seguro)^[189]
• Isidro Morais Pereira –Major general; retiredArmy officer;political commentator^{[190][191][192]}
• João Ferreira – formerMEP (2009–2021); presidential candidate inthe previous election^[193][194](endorsed António Filipe)^[195]
• José Luís Carneiro – incumbentSecretary-general of the Socialist Party (since 2025); incumbentMP since 2024 (also in 2005); formerminister of internal administration (2022–2024); former mayor ofBaião (2005–2015)^[196](endorsed António José Seguro)^[176]
• José Manuel Durão Barroso – formerpresident of the European Commission (2004–2014); formerprime minister (2002–2004); formerpresident of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (1998–2004); former minister of foreign affairs (1992–1995); former MP (1985–2004)^{[197][198][199]}(endorsed Luís Marques Mendes)
• José Pedro Aguiar-Branco – incumbentpresident of the Assembly of the Republic since 2024; incumbent MP since 2024 (also in 2005–2019); minister in the 16th, 19th and 20th governments^[200]
• Leonor Beleza – incumbent member of theCouncil of State since 2008; formerminister of health (1985–1990); former MP (1983–1985; 1987–1995; 2002–2005)^[30][201](endorsed Luís Marques Mendes)^[202]
• Luís Filipe Menezes – incumbent mayor ofVila Nova de Gaia since 2025 (also 1997–2013); formerpresident of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2007–2008)^[203][204](endorsed Luís Marques Mendes)
• Mário Centeno – incumbent governor of theBank of Portugal since 2020; formerpresident of the Eurogroup (2018–2020); formerminister of finance (2015–2020)^{[205][184][206][207]}
• Marisa Matias – former MP (2024–2025); former MEP (2009–2024); presidential candidate in the2016 and2021 presidential elections^[208][209](endorsed Catarina Martins)
• Paulo Portas – former leader ofCDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) (1998–2005, 2007–2016); former deputy prime minister (2013–2015); minister in the 15th, 16th, 19th and 20th governments; former MP (1995–2016)^{[210][211][212][213][214]}
• Paulo Raimundo – incumbent secretary-general of thePortuguese Communist Party (PCP) since 2022; incumbent MP since 2024^[215](endorsed António Filipe)^[54]
• Pedro Passos Coelho – formerprime minister (2011–2015); formerpresident of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2010–2018); former MP (1991–1999; 2011–2018)^{[216][217][218]}
• Pedro Santana Lopes – incumbent mayor ofFigueira da Foz since 2021 (also in 1998–2002); formerprime minister (2004–2005); formermayor of Lisbon (2002–2004; 2005); formerpresident of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2004–2005); former secretary of state of the presidency (1985–1987) and of culture (1990–1994); former MP (1980–1995, 2001–2002, 2005–2009); former MEP (1985–1987)^[219][220]
• Rodrigo Saraiva – incumbent Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic since 2024; incumbent MP since 2022; former leader of theIL parliamentary caucus (2022–2024)^[221][222](endorsed João Cotrim de Figueiredo)
• Rui Moreira – former Mayor ofPorto (2013–2025)^{[223][224][225]}(endorsed Luís Marques Mendes)^[226]
• Rui Rio – formerpresident of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2018–2022); former mayor ofPorto (2002–2013); former MP (1991–2002; 2019–2022)^{[227][228][229]}(endorsed Henrique Gouveia e Melo)^[230]
• Rui Rocha – former leader of theLiberal Initiative (IL) (2023–2025); incumbent MP since 2022^[231](endorsed João Cotrim de Figueiredo)
• Rui Tavares – incumbent MP since 2022; formerMEP (2009–2014)^{[232][233][234]}(endorsed Jorge Pinto)
• Tiago Mayan – former president of the Parish ofAldoar, Foz do Douro e Nevogilde (2021–2024); presidential candidate inthe previous election^[235]

The first round campaign was marked by issues like the state ofhealthcare in Portugal;immigration; the proposed changes to labour laws;^[236] the use of presidential powers, such as the use of the power to dissolve parliament; constitutional reform;foreign policy, being highlighted thewar in Ukraine, the presence of Portugal inNATO, the involvement ofDonald Trump in European affairs and thesituation in Venezuela;^{[237][238][239]} plus the importance of political stability to the country.^[240] During the one-on-one debates, the issue of transparency also arose, with PSD supported candidate,Luís Marques Mendes, being strongly questioned about his business past and links to corporations and the government.^[241]

On 23 December 2025, acourt inLisbon orderedChega presidential candidateAndré Ventura to remove campaign posterstargeting theRomani people within 24 hours, ruling that the materials arediscriminatory and mayincite hatred, or face daily fines of €2,500 (US$2,940) per poster.^[242][243] Also, the last few days of the first round campaign were dominated by an accusation of sexual harassment againstJoão Cotrim de Figueiredo by a former female IL parliamentary aid, with the candidate denying the accusation and even filing a lawsuit against the woman who accused him, despite new revelations and contradictions being reported.^[244]

The campaign for the second round was limited, as bad weather across the country, and the devastating impact ofStorm Kristin, after 28 January, all but put a halt to the campaign,^[245] despite the discussion about the "wave" of center-right endorsements for Seguro and the government's response to the storm aftermath being dominant.^{[246][247][248]}

The three main TV channels in Portugal,RTP1,SIC andTVI, agreed to host 28 one-on-one debates between the 8 main candidates on the ballot for the first round.^[255] However, this format was challenged, as the three main broadcasters were accused of forcing an exclusivity agreement so that the debates only take place on these three channels.^[256]CMTV filed a complaint to theElectoral Commission [pt] (CNE) against RTP, SIC and TVI, accusing the networks of an "anti-competitive matrix".^[257] The channels denied such agreement, but the media regulator ruled in favour of CMTV and advised for the debate format to include the plaintiff.^[258] Despite this advise, the 3 channels decided to not change the format.^[259]Radio stations also hosted a debate with the 8 main candidates,^[260] whileRTP1 hosted a debate with all 11 candidates on the ballot.^[261]

The three main TV channels, RTP1, SIC and TVI, agreed to invite the two candidates in the second round for a debate, with both Seguro and Ventura accepting the invitation. The debate was held on 27 January and broadcast simultaneously by the three major networks.^[312] Radio stations also invited the two candidates for a one-on-one debate, but the Seguro campaign rejected this invitation and a debate was not be held.^[313]

This section is an excerpt fromOpinion polling for the 2026 Portuguese presidential election § Graphical summary.[edit]

The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day including voters from Overseas.

Turnout	Time
	12:00			16:00			19:00
	2021	2026	±	2021	2026	±	2021	2026	±
Total	17.07%	21.18%	4.11pp	35.44%	45.51%	10.07pp	39.26%	52.39%	13.13pp
Sources[338][339]

Voter turnout was higher in the first round compared to 2021, with 5.77 million voters casting a ballot, the second highest number of votes cast in a first round presidential election in Portuguese history, only surpassed by the1980 turnout, and the third highest turnout in a national election in 30 years, only behind the2024 and2025 legislative elections.^[340] In Portugal alone, the turnout rate stood at 61.50 percent, an increase of 16.05 percent compared with 2021,^[341] while in Overseas constituencies,Europe andOutside of Europe, the turnout rate also increased to 4.09%, compared with the 1.88% from 2021.^[342] The overall share of voter turnout, Portugal alone and Overseas combined, stood at 52.39%, a 13.13 percent increase compared with 2021.^[343]

Turnout	Time
	12:00			16:00			19:00
	1st	2nd	±	1st	2nd	±	1st	2nd	±
Total	21.18%	22.35%	1.17pp	45.51%	45.50%	0.01pp	52.39%	50.08%	2.31pp
Sources[338][344]

Due toStorm Kristin and its resultingfloods, some localities postponed the second round voting to 15 February: the municipalities ofAlcácer do Sal,Arruda dos Vinhos,Golegã, and parts of the municipalities ofCartaxo (parish of Valada),Leiria (parish of Bidoeira de Cima),Rio Maior (parish ofAlcobertas and part of parish of Rio Maior),Salvaterra de Magos (parish ofSalvaterra de Magos), andSantarém (parts of the city of Santarém and of the parish ofSão Vicente do Paul).^[345][346] These localities comprised 36,852 registered voters.^[1]

Seguro was the clear winner of the first round, winning 18 districts, while Ventura won only Faro and Madeira;^[347] however, voters overseas gave a clear victory to Ventura.^[348] In terms ofmunicipalities, Seguro won 225 out of the country's 308 municipalities, while Ventura was the winner in 80 of them, and Marques Mendes only won 3 municipalities.^[349]

In his first round victory speech, Seguro said he that he is "free" and "lives without shackles", adding that there were "no losers" because "we are all democrats". Ventura criticized "socialism" during his election night speech, saying he would "lead the non-socialist space in Portugal" and that "socialism kills, socialism corrupts". João Cotrim Figueiredo criticized Prime MinisterLuís Montenegro, who announced his neutrality in the second round, saying that he was to blame for the country having a "President from the PS". Henrique Gouveia e Melo conceded defeat, saying the results "did not meet the objectives" he had set, and that there was the "need to depoliticize the Presidency of the Republic". Luís Marques Mendes also conceded defeat, assuming full responsibility for the outcome. Catarina Martins, António Filipe, and Jorge Pinto endorsed Seguro in their election night speeches.^[350]

In the second round, Seguro achieved a landslide victory, winning 303 out of 305 municipalities, 3,095 out of 3,239 civil parishes and all 20 districts, however trailing Ventura by 1,366 in the overseas vote but winning 70 out of 107 consulates.^[351][352] In his speech as President-elect, Seguro promised political stability and "loyalty and institutional cooperation" with the government, while being a "demanding President".^[353] Ventura conceded defeat, but argued that the results were just a "path" to change and leading the government of Portugal, saying that the party was now the leading right-wing party in Portugal.^[354]

• 
  Most voted candidate in the first round, byparish.
• 
  Most voted candidate that did not advance to the second round, by municipality.

    João Cotrim de Figueiredo

    Henrique Gouveia e Melo

    Luís Marques Mendes

    António Filipe

• 
  Most voted candidate in the first round by Portuguese citizens abroad, by area of jurisdiction of consular posts.

    André Ventura

    António José Seguro

    João Cotrim de Figueiredo

    Luís Marques Mendes

    Henrique Gouveia e Melo

    Manuel João Vieira

    No votes
• 
  Most voted candidate in the second round by Portuguese citizens abroad, by area of jurisdiction of consular posts.

    André Ventura

    António José Seguro

    No votes

• 2026 elections in the European Union