Lebanon has officially kicked off its 2026 parliamentary election process after the interior ministry issued a decree calling on voters to elect the next parliament.

The decree, published in the official government gazette in accordance with Article 42 of the constitution and the parliamentary election law, lays out the full electoral calendar and formally summons electoral bodies to the polls.

Under the timetable, Lebanese citizens living abroad will cast their votes one week before those inside the country. The diaspora voting period is set for May 1 and May 3, while voting inside Lebanon is scheduled for Sunday, May 10.

The text of the decree says voting for non‑resident Lebanese will be conducted in phases based on the country where expatriates reside. It specifically lists a wide range of countries where May 3 has been designated for diaspora voting, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, Romania, Greece, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, as well as several African and Latin American nations. 

Voting in a number of Arab countries — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt — is set for May 1.

The decree also clarifies that polling stations will be organized in all electoral districts as defined by Lebanon’s parliamentary election law, which governs the conduct of the vote and any amendments.