LIST: Important dates for 2026 BARMM elex

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released the calendar of activities for the 2026 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections (BPE).

Under Memorandum No. 260432 dated April 8, Comelec has set the election day for the first-ever BPE on Monday, September 14. 

The election period will run from July 16 to September 29, 2026, while the campaign period will start from July 30 to September 12, 2026. 

Other scheduled activities are as follows:

April 6 —  Deadline for the extended filing period for the registration and accreditation of regional political parties (RPPPs) and parliamentary sectoral organizations (PSOs)

May 5 — Filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs) of district representatives and filing of list of nominees with CAN-ANA of RPPs and Coalitions

July 16 — Roadshow and training of EBs, SEBs, DESO, DESO Tech, Hub Tech, DESO TSS, Support Staff, BOC

September 12 — Final testing and sealing

September 13 — Eve of Election Day

September 15 to September 19 — Period within which the election officers (EOs) shall advise in writing, by personal delivery or registered mail, all candidates residing in the EO’s jurisdiction to comply with their obligations to file their SOCEs

September 15 to September 29 — Payment of honoraria of poll workers

October 14 — Last day to file SOCE

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month signed into law a proposed bill resetting the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to September 14, 2026.

This comes after the elections body, in January, reset the for the fourth time, citing legal and operational constraints following delays in the passage of the BARMM redistricting law.

To recall, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the postponement of the Bangsamoro elections scheduled for October 13 after declaring two districting laws—Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAAs) 58 and 77—unconstitutional on October 2025. 

BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Act of 2025, amended BAA 58 and redistricted vacant seats following an SC ruling excluding Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The SC also directed the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to pass a redistricting bill by October 30 and instructed the Comelec to continue its preparations and conduct the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections no later than March 31, 2026.

Prohibited Acts

Meanwhile, the Comelec will impose a gun ban in the autonomous region during the election period. The poll body will also prohibit candidates from using security personnel or bodyguards, unless authorized by the commission.

Also prohibited during the election period are the alteration of territory of a precinct or the establishment of new precincts; transfer or detail of civil service officers and employees; organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces; suspension of elective, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officers without prior Comelec approval; and the illegal release of prisoners.

Meanwhile, the following acts are considered prohibited in the Bangsamoro region during the campaign period:

• Giving of donation of candidates, their spouses, any relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or campaign managers or representatives
• Use of special policemen; hiring of new civil service employees or creation of new government agencies
• Promoting or giving salary increases to any government officials or employees; releasing of public funds except those enumerated in Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC)
• Construction of public works except for projects exempted by the commission
• Use of armored land, water or aircraft
• Removal, destruction, or defacing of lawful election propaganda
• Use of policemen and provincial guards as bodyguards or security guards.

Banned from September 4 to September 14, 2026, meanwhile, are the release of public funds in the region except for medical or burial assistance.

On the eve of Election Day, the Comelec will also implement a liquor ban in the region. Also prohibited are any campaign activities as well as giving and accepting free transportation, food, drinks, or items of value.

The Comelec will prohibit campaigning, using a voter's affidavit of another person; voting more than once; destroying or substituting lawful campaign materials; soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda against a candidate within 30 meters from the polling place; opening of stalls for wares, merchandise, and refreshment within 30 meters from the polling place; and holding of fairs, boxing, horse races, and other similar sports on Election Day. —VAL, GMA News