Approximately 178 senatorial seats will be contested in the upcoming senatorial elections on Sunday, September 27. Every three years, France's upper house of parliament, the Senate, renews half of its 348 elected members. Candidates had until September 11 to register for the election, which takes place in 64 constituencies across the country. This year, the election is held in numbered departments from 1 to 36 and from 67 to 90 in mainland France, excluding Île-de-France, and includes overseas territories such as French Guiana, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Wallis-et-Futuna, and French Polynesia. It also includes zone 2 of French citizens living abroad. In some areas, candidates run on proportional representation lists, while in others, they run individually for a majority vote. Senators are elected by a college of 93,469 electors, which includes members of the National Assembly, outgoing senators, regional and departmental council members, as well as mayors and municipal councilors. The majority of these electors are mayors and local council members, which means the results of the 2026 municipal elections could significantly influence the senatorial outcome. According to Le Figaro, the National Rally, which successfully elected many mayors in March, could benefit from this shift in the electoral college. In contrast, Les Républicains, who are running for 77 of the 130 seats they currently hold, may face challenges. Meanwhile, the Renaissance party, led by Gabriel Attal, could lose its Senate group, according to La Croix. On the left, the Socialist Party (PS) and Les Ecologistes are defending their current positions, as reported by L'Humanité, while La France insoumise aims to gain representation in the Senate for the first time. A candidate from La France insoumise (LFI) running for a senatorial seat described experiencing cyberbullying and threats of rape for eight months, saying, "I was afraid." These incidents highlight the personal risks some candidates face during the election process. The senatorial elections will take place on September 27, 2026, after which the new composition of the Senate—known as the Hémicycle—will be revealed. The Senate has elected Gérard Larcher as its president for a fifth term, maintaining continuity in the leadership of the upper house.