Nepal set to hold election for the first time since deadly protests in 2025

Nearly 19 million people are expected to head to the polls in Nepal on March 5, 2026, to choose a new government. The election will be the nation’s first since deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government of 73-year-old Marxist leader K.P. Sharma Oli in September 2025. The youth-led protests were fuelled by anger at economic stagnation and an ageing elite that was seen as out of touch. Among the election front runners are younger candidates, including rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah who is aged 35.