The Parti Québécois has won the 2026 Quebec election, putting party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on course to become the province’s next premier and ending the Coalition Avenir Québec’s two-term hold on power.
The result marks a major political reversal for the PQ, which held only seven seats when the legislature was dissolved.
The party had been reduced to three seats after the 2022 election but rebuilt its support during a campaign dominated by dissatisfaction with the outgoing government, Quebec’s future within Canada and pressure on public services.
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Quebec Election: Parti Québécois returns to power
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s victory completes the party’s return from political decline and restores a sovereigntist government in Quebec for the first time since the Parti Québécois was defeated in 2014.
The PQ’s election result follows four consecutive byelection victories, including wins in Jean-Talon, Terrebonne, Arthabaska and Chicoutimi.
Those contests helped establish the party as the main challenger to the CAQ before the general election campaign began.
Preliminary election-night projections indicated that the PQ would form the next government, although the final distribution of seats remained subject to the completion of counting and the official addition of votes.
A majority in the 127-seat National Assembly requires at least 64 seats.
CAQ loses power after two majority governments
The result ends a period of dominance for the CAQ, which won majority governments in both 2018 and 2022.
The party entered the election with 79 seats, but its support weakened sharply during the campaign.
Christine Fréchette led the CAQ into the election after François Legault’s departure from the party leadership.
The campaign placed the government’s record on health care, the economy, immigration, housing and relations with Ottawa under sustained scrutiny.
The Quebec Liberals were positioned to recover ground and seek the role of official opposition, while Québec solidaire faced a series of competitive races in Montreal.
The Conservative Party of Quebec also made significant gains in the Quebec City region.
Éric Duhaime wins a seat for Quebec Conservatives
Éric Duhaime was elected in Bellechasse, giving the modern Conservative Party of Quebec its first elected seat since its revival.
The result was an important breakthrough for a party that received a substantial share of the popular vote in 2022 but failed to win a riding.
The Conservatives campaigned on lower taxes, reduced government spending, greater private-sector participation in health care and a harder line on several economic and cultural issues.
Duhaime had set a goal of winning enough seats to obtain official party status in the National Assembly.
Referendum question moves closer
The PQ’s victory brings the question of Quebec independence back to the centre of provincial politics.
St-Pierre Plamondon has said a PQ government would hold a referendum during its first mandate, but not before the end of U.S. President Donald Trump’s current term.
A referendum would not happen automatically as a result of the election.
The new government would still need to determine the timing, wording and legal framework for any vote, while negotiating a political environment likely to include strong opposition from federalist parties, Indigenous leaders, business groups and the federal government.
During the campaign, the PQ also emphasized issues outside the constitutional debate, including French-language protection, immigration levels, health-care administration, support for Quebec businesses affected by tariffs and measures intended to reduce homelessness.
Higher turnout than in 2022
Élections Québec reported a preliminary turnout of 68.72 per cent when polls closed, above the turnout recorded in the previous two provincial elections.
The 2026 vote was held across 127 electoral divisions under a new electoral map.
The agency said preliminary results would be released as ballots were counted, with results becoming official after the addition of votes, generally beginning the day after the election.
The official declarations of election are expected to follow the statutory process in each riding.
What happens next
- The final vote totals and seat standings will be confirmed through the official counting process.
- St-Pierre Plamondon will prepare to form a cabinet and present the new government’s priorities.
- The National Assembly will begin operating with a new balance of power and a significantly reduced CAQ presence.
- Debate over a possible independence referendum is expected to intensify immediately.
The election gives the Parti Québécois a mandate to govern, but the strength of that mandate will depend on whether the party has secured a majority and how it manages the competing economic, social and constitutional issues that shaped the campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 Quebec election?
The Parti Québécois won the election and is set to form Quebec’s next government, with Paul St-Pierre Plamondon becoming premier.
Did the Parti Québécois win a majority government?
The final seat count must be confirmed through the official counting process. A majority in Quebec’s 127-seat legislature requires 64 seats.
Who is Quebec’s next premier?
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is set to become Quebec’s next premier.
Will Quebec hold an independence referendum?
The PQ has promised a referendum during its first mandate, but the election itself does not automatically trigger a referendum.
When will the Quebec election results become official?
Preliminary results are released on election night, while official results follow the addition of votes, generally beginning the day after the election.
Fact-Checked: Key election dates, turnout information, seat requirements and the official results process were checked against Élections Québec information and current election-result reporting.
Disclaimer: Seat totals and riding-level outcomes may change until Élections Québec completes its official addition of votes.