Local elections 2026

Municipal elections are elections held at municipal level, which are organised by the 421 towns and municipalities and 21 districts in Hesse on their own responsibility.

Municipal and district elections are referred to as general municipal elections. They are held together on the same day throughout the country. The next general local elections will take place on 15 March 2026.

By ordinance of 23 May 2025 (GVBl. 2025 No. 30), the Hessian state government also set the date for the election of the foreigners' advisory councils as 15 March 2026. The general municipal elections will also take place on this date.

Foreigners' advisory councils are elected in municipalities in which more than 1,000 foreign residents are registered. The term of office of the Foreigners' Advisory Council is five years. Elections are held according to the same principles as for general municipal elections, with the exception that only foreign residents, including EU citizens, but not German-foreign dual nationals, are eligible to vote.