Hungary's election enters final push amid tight race between Orbán and challenger

On the eve of Hungary's pivotal 2026 parliamentary election, opposition candidate Péter Magyar is intensifying his campaign to end Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule.

Magyar called for a decisive two-thirds majority victory, rallying supporters with optimism about change.

Large rallies have marked the final campaign days, including a major anti-Fidesz concert in Budapest's Heroes' Square that drew tens of thousands.

Orbán, leader of the ruling Fidesz party, trails in most opinion polls but maintains a loyal base.

The election has attracted international attention.

US Vice-President JD Vance visited Hungary to support Orbán's campaign, and former US President Donald Trump pledged to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary's economy if Orbán wins.

This election is significant as it could end over a decade and a half of Fidesz dominance in Hungarian politics.

The opposition has united behind Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who has broken ranks with Orbán.

Orbán's campaign has focused on warnings about threats from the European Union and Ukraine, but this message has not closed the polling gap.

Magyar holds an average 10-point lead in opinion polls, buoyed by widespread public anger directed at the incumbent government.

Magyar's final campaign stop is scheduled in Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, while Orbán will hold a rally in Budapest.

The opposition's large rallies and energized voter mobilization reflect a high level of public engagement.

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