Next German federal election
The next German federal election will be held on or before 26 October 2025 to elect the members of the 21st Bundestag. Date The Basic Law and the Federal Election Act provide that federal elections must be held on a Sunday or on a national holiday no earlier than 46 and no later than 48 months after the first sitting of a Bundestag, unless the Bundestag is dissolved earlier. The 20th and sitting Bundestag held its first sitting on 26 October 2021. Therefore, the next election has to take place on one of the following possible dates: 31 August 2025 (Sunday) 7 September 2025 (Sunday) 14 September 2025 (Sunday) 21 September 2025 (Sunday) 28 September 2025 (Sunday) 3 October 2025 (German Unity Day) 5 October 2025 (Sunday) 12 October 2025 (Sunday) 19 October 2025 (Sunday) 26 October 2025 (Sunday) The exact date will be determined by the President of Germany in due course. Federal elections can be held earlier if the President of Germany dissolves the Bundestag and schedules a snap election. They may only do so under two possible scenarios described by the Basic Law. If the Bundestag fails to elect a Chancellor with an absolute majority of its