In the 2026 French municipal elections, the Socialist Party (PS) and broader left-wing coalitions emerged as the primary winners, securing major victories in France’s largest cities. Conversely, the far-right National Rally (RN) and the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) struggled to translate national momentum into local dominance.

 

Winners and losers in France’s municipal elections

In the 2026 French municipal elections, the Socialist Party (PS) and broader left-wing coalitions emerged as the primary winners, securing major victories in France’s largest cities. Conversely, the far-right National Rally (RN) and the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) struggled to translate national momentum into local dominance.

 

The Winners

Socialist Party (PS): Despite national struggles in recent years, the Socialists maintained their local strongholds.

Paris: Emmanuel Grégoire (PS) won the mayoral race, succeeding Anne Hidalgo.

Marseille: Incumbent Benoît Payan, leading a broad Left and Green coalition, secured victory in a tight run-off.

Lille: Veteran Socialist Martine Aubry was re-elected.

Center-Right / Conservatives:

Toulouse: Incumbent Jean-Luc Moudenc fended off a hard-left challenge to win another term.

Nice: Despite a strong far-right push, Christian Estrosi (Horizons/LR) remained a dominant figure against Eric Ciotti.

Edouard Philippe: The former Prime Minister and leader of the Horizons party successfully defended his mayoralty in Le Havre, bolstering his potential 2027 presidential ambitions.

 

The Losers

National Rally (RN): While the far right saw significant gains in polling and early rounds, they failed to deliver a "decisive breakthrough" in major urban centers like Marseille or Nice.

France Unbowed (LFI): Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s party struggled to win over moderate voters in key cities, with candidates in Toulouse and Roubaix failing to secure the mayoralty despite strong first-round showings.

Anne Hidalgo: Though her successor won, Hidalgo’s personal influence waned following a "bad breakup" with Emmanuel Grégoire and criticism over her leadership style.

 

Key Election Stats (March 2026)

City    Winner         Party/Coalition

Paris  Emmanuel Grégoire      Socialist Party (PS)

Marseille    Benoît Payan         Union of the Left/Greens

Toulouse     Jean-Luc Moudenc         Center-Right (LR/Horizons)

Le Havre      Edouard Philippe            Horizons

Lille   Martine Aubry       Socialist Party (PS)

Voter Turnout: Participation was notably high for local elections, reaching approximately 67.1%.