Liberal Party Gains Momentum as Sweden Democrats and Social Democrats Lose Ground in Latest Polls

Recent polling data from DN/Ipsos reveals significant shifts in voter support among Swedish political parties ahead of the upcoming election. The Liberal party (Liberalerna) has seen a remarkable resurgence, increasing its voter support to 3.5%, its best performance in a year and approaching the parliamentary threshold. This surge is attributed primarily to former Liberal supporters returning from the Moderates (Moderaterna), according to Nicklas Källebring, an Ipsos analyst.

Conversely, the traditionally dominant Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterna) have experienced a decline, dropping to 27.1%—their lowest level since Magdalena Andersson succeeded Stefan Löfven. Meanwhile, both Moderaterna and the Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) face weakened positions, polling at 17.4% and 17.7% respectively, well below their results in the 2022 election.

Despite these fluctuations, opposition parties maintain a strong collective lead, approximately 8 percentage points ahead of the Tidö parties. The losses for the Social Democrats seem to benefit not only Liberalerna but also the Center Party (Centerpartiet), which is performing comparatively well this election cycle.

Public sentiment has also shifted positively, with optimism about Sweden’s societal development reaching its highest in seven years. Approval of the government's performance now outpaces disapproval, marking a change in how many citizens perceive national progress.

Questions remain about the effectiveness of party campaigns, especially as the Sweden Democrats continue to lose support. The election season has become increasingly competitive, with several parties vying closely for voter attention and favor.

The DN/Ipsos survey was conducted from August 25 to September 7, 2026, involving 1,708 eligible voters through various representative methods.

This evolving political landscape suggests that smaller parties like Liberalerna could play a crucial role in the parliamentary configuration post-election, while established parties grapple with maintaining or regaining support.