Moderaterna Surges as Sverigedemokraterna and Tidö Parties Decline in 2026 Swedish School Election
The 2026 Swedish school election showed a rise for Moderaterna and left-wing parties, while Tidö parties saw significant losses and youth voter participation reached a new high.
Key details
- Moderaterna leads with 32.7% of votes, up 5.5 points since 2022.
- Sverigedemokraterna drops 7 points to 13.8%.
- Tidö coalition parties see significant declines.
- Opposition parties Socialdemokraterna, Vänsterpartiet, and Miljöpartiet gain support.
- Record turnout with over 400,000 students voting, 23,000 more than in 2022.
The 2026 Swedish school election revealed a notable shift among youth voters, with Moderaterna emerging as the dominant party, securing 32.7% of the votes—a 5.5 percentage point increase since 2022. Over 400,000 high school and secondary school students participated, marking a record voter turnout with 23,000 more voters than the previous election.
This election saw a significant decline for Tidö parties. Sverigedemokraterna suffered a steep drop to 13.8%, losing 7 percentage points. Other Tidö coalition parties also experienced setbacks: Kristdemokraterna fell to 3.0% (-6.3 points), Liberalerna to 1.2% (-3.2 points), and Centerpartiet to 6.1% (-1.8 points).
In contrast, left-leaning opposition parties gained ground. Socialdemokraterna rose to 19.3% (+3.2), Vänsterpartiet increased to 12.1% (+4.2), and Miljöpartiet grew to 7.5% (+2.8). The trend highlights Generation Alpha's move towards more left-oriented politics compared to four years ago.
Magnus Jägerskog, Director-General of the Agency for Youth and Civil Society Issues (MUCF), praised the high turnout and noted that school elections play a positive role in enhancing democratic engagement among youth.
These results not only indicate a reshaping of youth political preferences but also serve as an early indicator of future electoral trends in Sweden.