Covering the 2027 French presidential election
France votes on 18 April and 2 May 2027. We already work with international media on the campaign, and our founder is a journalist and member of the Foreign Press Association in Paris. Here is the calendar, what you need to plan, and what we set up for your team.
01
The calendar
What to plan aroundNowCandidates declare, parties hold primaries and conventions. The best time to secure interviews with campaign staff, MPs and experts, before diaries fill up.
Early 2027The decree convening voters is published, at the latest ten weeks before the first round.
Mid March 2027Deadline for candidates to file their 500 sponsorships from elected officials. The Constitutional Council then publishes the official list of candidates.
5 April 2027Official campaign opens (second Monday before the first round). Equal airtime rules apply to French broadcasters, rallies multiply across France.
18 April 2027First round. Results from 8 pm, when the last polling stations close.
2 May 2027Second round between the two leading candidates.
The dates were set by the government in July 2026
The first and second rounds were announced for Sunday 18 April and Sunday 2 May 2027. The decree that formally convenes voters comes early in 2027. Like every date on this page, we check it again against official sources as the campaign moves, and we update this page.
02
What foreign teams get wrong
And how we handle it01Accreditation is per campaignThere is no single press pass for the election. Each campaign accredits journalists for its rallies and its election night, through its own press team, often a few days ahead and with limited riser positions. We track the deadlines and file the requests.Per event
02Election night positionsPositions outside and inside campaign headquarters go early. For a live shot on 18 April or 2 May, plan the position, the transmission and the backup weeks ahead.Live
03Polling stationsFilming inside a polling station is at the discretion of the presiding officer, and voters' choices and booths are off limits. We ask ahead and brief your crew.On the day
04Results embargoNo results or estimates may be published in France before the last polling stations close at 8 pm. Check with your legal desk how this applies to your output.8 pm
05Who to interviewSpokespeople change, ministers become candidates, local figures matter more than national ones in some regions. We build the list with you and get people on camera, in French or in English.Editorial
06Beyond ParisThe story is often outside Paris: former industrial towns, rural France, the suburbs, the overseas territories by video link. Crews hired locally, joined by one of us.All of France
03
What we set up
For news, documentary and digital01Campaign fixer and producerOne of the two founders on your story from the first call to the last feed, with a bilingual crew.Producer
02Interview seriesCandidates' teams, MPs, mayors, pollsters, historians and voters: booked, briefed and filmed, in a studio, on location or remotely. We are preparing one such series now for an international outlet.Interviews
03Rallies and toursAccreditation, positions, transport between rallies across France, and the logistics of following a candidate.On the road
04Election nightsLive positions, transmission, guests on standby and a fixer at each headquarters you need covered.18 April, 2 May
05Context and checksFounded by a journalist: we brief your correspondent on the story behind the polls and check what will read badly in France.Editorial
04
Why us
Journalists firstFixersInParis started in 2013 as Élie Petit's fixing work for foreign newsrooms. He is a working journalist, a member of the Foreign Press Association in Paris, and has worked for NBC, the BBC, NPR and the Washington Post. Our news work includes three months of daily coverage for NBC Universal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, recognised with two Emmy Awards, and, right now, three fixers deployed with international broadcasters on the social unrest in France.
The campaign has started, and we already work with international media on it. If you plan to cover 2027, the useful moment to call is now: interviews are easier to book before the official campaign, and election night positions go first.
When is the 2027 French presidential election?
The first round is on Sunday 18 April 2027 and the second round on Sunday 2 May 2027, as announced by the government in July 2026. The decree formally convening voters is published early in 2027.
Do foreign journalists need accreditation to cover French presidential campaign rallies?
There is no single national pass. Each campaign accredits journalists for its own rallies and election night through its press team, usually on a short deadline and with limited positions. A fixer who follows the campaigns can file the requests and secure positions in advance.
Can a foreign crew film inside a French polling station?
Only with the agreement of the presiding officer of the polling station, and never voters' choices or the booths. It is best to ask ahead and to arrive with a French speaker who can explain the request.
When are French election results published?
No results or estimates may be published in France before the last polling stations close at 8 pm on election day. Projections are released at 8 pm.
Can FixersInParis organise interviews with French politicians?
Yes. We book interviews with campaign teams, MPs, mayors, experts and voters, in French or English, and our founder's journalism network helps with spokespeople. Call or WhatsApp +33 6 68 08 61 02.
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The France Production Brief
Four times a year, what changes for foreign productions in France: permits, tax rebate, border rules, strikes, the events calendar and what we see on set. Written by the two founders.
Covering the 2027 election? Tell us your plan.
Dates, regions, the interviews you want and how you deliver (live, packages, series). We send back a plan with accreditation deadlines and positions.
Or email [email protected]. We reply within 3 hours.