2026 Barbadian general election

According to the Constitution of Barbados, the Parliament shall stand dissolved no later than every five years from the first sitting of Parliament.^[4] The previous general elections were held on 19 January 2022, and the first sitting of the new session of Parliament was held on 4 February 2022.^[5] After the dissolution of Parliament, the President of Barbados must issue a writ for a general election of members to the House of Assembly and for appointment of senators to the Senate within 90 days.^[6] The 2022 general elections saw the ruling Barbados Labour Party win all 30 seats for the second consecutive election since 2018.^[7] Following the loss, DLP leader Verla De Peiza resigned from party leadership on 21 January 2022.^[8]

Ronnie Yearwood was selected as the next DLP president on 1 May 2022.^[9] On 10 February 2024, Ralph Thorne crossed the floor and became opposition leader.^[10] After crossing, Thorne appointed Ryan Walters and Tricia Watson as opposition senators.^[11] Yearwood confirmed that Thorne officially joined the DLP and became the party's political leader on 19 February the same year.^[12] The DLP began losing confidence in Yearwood as DLP president after he attended a meeting with Saint Lucia's opposition leader Allen Chastanet without permission from Thorne.^[13] A power struggle within the party followed, with the DLP dividing into factions between Thorne and Yearwood.^[14] DLP general secretary Steve Blackett and Yearwood were suspended in May 2024 by the party's general council as a result of the struggle.^[15][16] Blackett and Yearwood were expelled from the DLP on 17 August 2024.^[17]

On 17 January 2026, Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, called for a new general election to be held less than a month away on 11 February of the same year.^[18]

The 30 members of the House of Assembly are elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.^[19] The system is modeled on the Westminster system.

Following the call for an election on 17 January, DLP leader and leader of the opposition stated that the DLP was ready to campaign on cost of living, crime, and the healthcare system.^[20] In the early campaign, Grenville Phillips II, party president of Solutions Barbados, remarked that there was no room for a third party in Barbados but he was still willing to support candidates who ran under Solutions Barbados.^[21] Reform Barbados founder Steve Prescott stated that his party would platform on economic reform, cost of living, and addressing youth unemployment.^[22]

Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressed a crowd on 22 January, detailing the public sector wage increases, reductions in income taxes, improvement of health care, and investments in public transport.^[23] Ryan Walters, a DLP candidate in St. Michael North West, stressed that voter engagement was top priority for DLP in the elections.^[24] Charles McDonald Griffith, who was running against Thorne in St. John, stating that he had assisted in improvements of public transport, sanitation, and employment.^[25]

BLP candidates paid their election deposits on 22 January,^[26] followed by both the DLP and Friends of Democracy on 23 January.^[27][28] The DLP staged an islandwide motorcade on 24 January, which traveled through the constituencies of Bridgetown, St. Michael, St. James, St. Peter, St. Lucy, St. George, St. John, St. Philip, and Christ Church.^[29] Thorne made several claims throughout the election campaign of the BLP-led government "interfering" with the voter list and the work of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC), disenfranchising potential electors. He also called for an extension of voter registration deadlines.^[30] Mottley refuted his claims and invited authorities from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Commonwealth of Nations to act as official election observers.^[31] She stated this decision was made in a bid to "protect the reputation of Barbados".^[32]

The BLP launched their party manifesto on 2 February,^[33] while the DLP launched their party manifesto on 8 February.^[34] The same day, Mottley criticised the DLP for giving Barbadians little time to analyse the DLP's manifesto.^[35] The FOD also outlined their policies on 8 February, calling for affordable housing, budget reform, and the reintroduction of capital and corporal punishment.^[36] The secretary general's office of the Commonwealth of Nations, which as a body had fielded election observers from other countries to Barbados, hailed the election as being peaceful and noted the "strong civic participation and respect for democratic rules". The press statement highlighted the fact "some names" were not found on the polling day voter's census. Though the overall election was summarized as being a positive example for the world.^[37][38]

Early voting was held for police officers and election day workers on 4 February.^[39] In previous elections, members of the overseas diplomatic corps have voted early as well. The EBC was reportedly in a state of readiness the day before the 11 February election. Polling was held from 06:00 to 18:00 (AST). Chief Electoral Officer Shirland Turton said there would be 542 polling boxes across the 30 constituencies, and more than 2,500 people were employed to facilitate operations at the various locations.^[40]

Ten political parties nominated candidates for this election. Including two independents, there were a total of 93 candidates. The slate of potential electors vying disclosed their affiliation under eight main political affiliations:^[31]

• The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) – the previous ruling party administration
• The Democratic Labour Party (DLP)
• Reform Barbados (RB)
• Solutions Barbados (SB)^[41]
• Friends of Democracy (FOD)
• Barbados Sovereignty Party (BSP)
• Bajan Free Party (BFP)^[42]
• The People's Coalition for Progress (PCP)

An independent coalition of smaller parties was announced involving an alliance comprising candidates running under the banner of: the New National Party (NNP), the United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Conservative Barbados Leadership Party (CBLP).^[43]

Early results first came in shortly after 11 pm local time, with a victory for the BLP's Santia Bradshaw in Saint Michael South East.^[55] A preliminary tally showed the BLP winning 15,978 votes (74.1%) and securing 21 seats, with the DLP winning 5,406 votes (25.1%) with no seats yet secured.^[56] By the early morning of 12 February, the BLP secured all 30 seats for the third election in a row.^[3] In St. John, Charles Griffith retained the seat with 2,327 votes, defeating DLP leader Ralph Thorne, who received 1,877 votes. In St. Michael North West, incumbent Neil Rowe won with 1,674 votes, defeating a strong challenge from DLP candidate Ryan Walters, who received 1,441 votes. In St. Michael Central and Bridgetown, BLP candidates who crossed the floor from the DLP won their respective races.^[55]

More information Party, Votes ...

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Barbados Labour Party	71,109	69.83	+0.57	30	0
	Democratic Labour Party	27,808	27.31	+0.90	0	0
	Friends of Democracy	1,424	1.40	New	0	New
	People's Coalition for Progress	910	0.89	New	0	New
	Bajan Free Party	161	0.16	-0.01	0	0
	Independents	426	0.42		0	0
Total		101,838	100.00	–	30	0
Source: Barbados Today[57]

Close

Prime Minister Mottley was sworn in for a third term on 12 February, having taken the oath of office in the presence of President Jeffrey Bostic, family members, and invited guests. In her victory speech, she stated that her government would work to reduce poverty and remove injustice so that opportunities for the people of Barbados would be created.^[79]

Wilfred Abrahams was also sworn on 12 February as the next Attorney General of Barbados, replacing the retiring Dale Marshall.^[80] Abrahams stated that he intended to continue fully staffing the police force and was eager to immediately begin work after meeting with staff.^[81]

Mottley's third cabinet was sworn on 16 February, which composed of 22 members of the Assembly and five government senators.^[82][83] In an address, Mottley said that the Cabinet represented a team for the changing times, different from the circumstances back in 2018.^[84] Mottley also stated that the new term would focus on economic expansion, private sector growth, productivity gains, and expanding affordability.^[85]

Eight members of the Assembly and the other seven government senators were sworn in on 19 February.^[86] President Bostic, who administered the oath of office, instructed the government senators to operate without fear or favour and do their best to serve the nation of Barbados.^[87] Seven independent senators picked by Bostic were sworn in during a later ceremony.^[88][89] For the opposition senators, President Bostic requested three to four names for consideration from the DLP.^[90] However, the DLP could only provide two names: DLP president Ralph Thorne and businessman Ryan Walters.^[91] Bostic decided to swear in FOD leader Karina Goodridge and DLP member Ryan Walters as the two opposition senators.^[92] After Walters was sworn in as opposition senator, he became the de facto political leader of the DLP in Parliament, as the DLP had no seats in the House of Assembly.^[93] The appointment of Goodridge also made her the first third-party representative appointed to parliamentary office in Barbados, a nation that was traditionally dominated by the BLP and the DLP.^[94]

Parliament was formally reopened on 20 February.^[95][96] Instead of the traditional speech that outlined the government's programme, President Bostic deviated, choosing to make a personal address of concerns toward the Parliament for the first time in the nation's history, identifying traffic congestion, gun violence, and education as the main topics the Parliament should address.^[97] The House of Assembly then moved forward to elect a speaker from someone who did not face the electorate for the first time since Parliament first opened in June 1639.^[98][99] Arthur Holder was re-elected as the first independently elected Speaker of the House of Assembly, making him the 31st member of the House of Assembly.^[100]

• Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Barbados)