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Denmark Election

The Denmark election usually refers to a general election for the Folketing, Denmark’s unicameral parliament.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Denmark election typically refers to a general election for the Folketing, Denmark's unicameral parliament. The most recent parliamentary election was held on 24 March 2026, resulting in a hung parliament where neither the left-wing red bloc nor the right-wing blue bloc won a majority.

Electoral system

Denmark elects the Folketing through party-list proportional representation. The parliament has 179 seats in total, including seats for Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

2026 general election

The latest parliamentary election took place on 24 March 2026. Reports described the result as a hung parliament, with the Social Democrats finishing as the largest party but neither bloc securing a governing majority.

Government formation

Danish governments are formed after negotiations following general elections. The prime minister may call an election earlier than the four-year constitutional maximum, and coalition bargaining is common when no bloc wins a majority.

Other elections in Denmark

Besides parliamentary elections, Denmark holds local elections for municipal and regional councils, and elections to the European Parliament. Referendums are also used on national issues.

Key facts

  • General elections choose the 179 members of the Folketing.
  • A general election must be held at least every four years, but the prime minister can call one earlier.
  • The 2026 election was held on 24 March and resulted in no overall majority.
  • The Social Democrats were the largest party, but both major political blocs fell short of 90 seats.
  • Denmark also holds municipal, regional, and European Parliament elections, plus referendums.
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Canadian context

No direct Canada-specific connection is inherent to the topic, though Canadian readers may compare Denmark’s proportional parliamentary system with Canada’s first-past-the-post federal elections.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Denmark election?
It usually means a general election for Denmark’s Folketing, the national parliament.
How often are Danish general elections held?
At least every four years, though the prime minister can call an earlier election.
How many seats are in the Folketing?
The Folketing has 179 seats.
What happened in the 2026 Denmark election?
The result was a hung parliament, with no bloc winning a majority.
Who was the largest party in the 2026 election?
The Social Democrats were the largest party.

References

  1. The Danish Parliament — https://www.thedanishparliament.dk/democracy/elections-and-voting
    Supports: Parliament has 179 seats; general elections must be held at least every four years; voting and election information
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Danish_general_election
    Supports: 2022 election date and broader context for the most recent election cycle
  3. Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/26/denmarks-pm-mette-frederiksen-calls-parliamentary-election-on-march-24
    Supports: 2026 election was called for 24 March and would decide the composition of the Folketing
  4. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/24/europe/demark-election-results-latam-intl
    Supports: 2026 election produced no clear majority and the Social Democrats remained the largest party
  5. Firstpost — https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/denmark-2026-election-folketing-results-social-democrats-venstre-13994065.html
    Supports: 2026 election turnout and seat distribution details
  6. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63481675
    Supports: 2022 election result, red bloc majority, and Social Democrats’ status as largest party