The rules for the 2026 NDP Leadership Race can be found here.

Once contestants have been approved and have announced, their information will be shared on the NDP leadership website.

You must be a member of the NDP to vote. As a member, you not only have the right to vote for our leader but you also help shape the Party’s future, choose local candidates, contribute to policy, and connect with other members.

It’s easy! Sign up at www.ndp.ca/join or become a monthly donor to stay up to date.

Please email membership@ndp.ca to verify if you are an up-to-date member of the Party.

To participate in the vote, you must be a member in good standing by Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The election of the next Leader of Canada’s NDP will use a preferential (ranked) ballot. Using preferential voting, voters will rank Leadership Contestants in order of their preference. For example, the voter will mark their ballot by selecting their first choice as ‘1’, their second choice as ‘2’, and so on.

Further information on how to vote, including voting methods and the voting period will be made available in the coming weeks.

The next Leader of Canada's NDP will be announced on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Yes. The Leadership race will include official debates where candidates will present their vision and answer questions. The schedule and locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

There are many meaningful ways you can take part in the leadership race and help energize local engagement.

• - Hosting local events and inviting leadership candidates to connect with your community
• - Organizing membership drives to renew existing memberships or welcome new members
• - Holding watch parties for the official leadership debates to foster discussion and excitement
• - Volunteering and supporting a leadership candidate of your choice

The 2026 Federal NDP Convention in Winnipeg will be a pivotal moment for our movement. It will bring together New Democrats from across Canada to organize, share ideas, and build momentum ahead of the next election. The convention will also coincide with the conclusion of the leadership race to elect our new Federal NDP Leader–making this an exciting opportunity to participate in one of the Party’s most significant democratic gatherings.

Further details on the 2026 Convention in Winnipeg will be made available in the coming weeks.

Visit www.ndp.ca for updates, the final debate schedules, and to find who is running to be the next Leader of Canada’s NDP.