Two days ahead of the Berlin-Vahl 2026 election, major political parties have officially wrapped up their weeks-long campaigns as millions of eligible residents prepare to decide the composition of the new Abgeordnetenhaus.
Final Campaign Rallies and the Push for a Political Shift
Political parties concluded their active campaigning with targeted rallies across the capital. The Left party hosted its final campaign event at the Rote Rathaus, a historic building that top candidate Elif Eralp aims to occupy following Sunday’s outcome. “Am Sonntag geht es um einen Politikwechsel,” stated Eralp during the closing event, emphasizing the party’s platform for governmental change. Meanwhile, the CDU and its lead candidate, Stefan Evers, completed their respective campaign events on Saturday.
The upcoming election brings significant changes to voter demographics and legislative choices. A total of 2,5 million Berlin residents are called to vote for the Abgeordnetenhaus, with 17 separate parties appearing on the ballot—representing only half the number of lists seen during the repeat election held three and a half years prior. For the first time, 16- and 17-year-olds are permitted to cast ballots for the state parliament. Polling stations remain open from 8 to 18 Uhr. Additionally, 2,75 million individuals are eligible to vote in the twelve local district assembly elections (Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen), a wider electorate that includes resident EU citizens living in the capital.
Did You Know? Seventeen political parties are fielding candidate lists for the 2026 Abgeordnetenhaus election, which is exactly half the number of lists that participated in the capital’s repeat election held three and a half years ago.
Latest Polling Data and the Tight Head-to-Head Race
Recent voter opinion polls indicate an extremely close race with no definitive frontrunner assured of a majority. Data published on Friday by the INSA institute following a survey of 1,000 people for the Volt party puts the CDU at 20 percent, the Left at 21 percent, the Greens at 15 percent, the SPD at 12 percent, the AfD at 18 percent, and the BSW at 5 percent. Similar figures emerged from the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen survey for the ZDF Politbarometer released on Thursday, which recorded the CDU at 20 percent, the Left at 22 percent, the Greens at 15 percent, the SPD at 12 percent, the AfD at 18 percent, and the BSW at 4 percent.
Uncertainty remains a major factor heading into the weekend. Among 1,611 respondents surveyed in the latest tracking data, 23 percent reported that they were still unsure which party to support on Sunday. Polling institutes emphasize that these numbers reflect only the momentary snapshot of public opinion at the time of questioning and do not constitute a direct forecast of the final election outcome.
Historic Low Satisfaction with the Governing Senate
Voter sentiment toward the current administration has reached a low point. A survey published on Saturday by the Infratest Dimapam institute on behalf of rbb reveals that only 20 percent of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the Berlin Senate. Such a low approval rating has not been recorded since 2001, leaving the government led by Mayor Kai Wegner positioned at the very bottom of nationwide comparisons among German federal states.
When evaluated on personal political work, Left candidate Elif Eralp leads the field with a 27 percent satisfaction rating, followed by Stefan Evers of the CDU at 21 percent. Steffen Krach of the SPD registers at 20 percent, while Werner Graf of the Greens and AfD top candidate Kristin Brinker each record 11 percent. However, polling data indicates that large portions of respondents either could not assess the candidates or did not know them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the polling standings ahead of the election?
According to recent surveys by INSA and Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, the Left and the CDU are running nearly neck-and-neck at the top, with the Left polling between 21 and 22 percent and the CDU holding steady at 20 percent.
Who is eligible to vote in Sunday’s election?
Berlin residents aged 16 and older can vote for the Abgeordnetenhaus. For the twelve district assembly elections, people are eligible, including resident EU citizens.
What does the latest data say about public satisfaction with the local government?
Infratest Dimapam polling commissioned by rbb shows that only 20 percent of respondents are satisfied with the Berlin Senate, marking the lowest approval level recorded for the administration since 2001.
How will the final voter distribution and potential coalition outcomes shape Berlin’s governance after Sunday?
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