France to hold senatorial elections in September 2026

The French senatorial elections scheduled for September 27, 2026, will see the renewal of 178 of the 348 Senate seats. This partial renewal covers series 2, involving 63 departments and a constituency for French citizens living abroad.

Senators are elected through indirect universal suffrage by an electoral college of over 90,000 grand electors. This college is primarily composed of mayors and municipal council delegates, who represent approximately 95% of the voters, alongside regional and departmental councilors and departmental parliamentarians.

The Senate plays a critical role in representing local authorities and influencing financial decisions. In 2026, state financial contributions to local authorities are projected to reach 53.4 billion euros in payment credits. The Senate is also central to the legislative process, participating in the 'navette'—the back-and-forth exchange of bills between the Senate and the National Assembly to refine laws through amendments and joint committees.