When is the first 2028 presidential debate?
The 2028 presidential debate schedule has not been set. Debates are organized by a non-governmental commission or by agreement between candidates and networks; no 2028 dates or formats have been announced.
Presidential debate scheduling is more complicated than many people realize. The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is a nonpartisan organization that has organized general-election presidential debates since 1988, but neither major party is obligated to accept its terms, and recent cycles have seen friction over format and conditions.
For 2028, no debate sponsor has announced dates, formats, or candidate thresholds. In recent cycles, primary debates organized by the national parties have begun roughly 12-18 months before the first primary, and general-election debates have been held in September and October of the election year.
The debate format in 2028 may look quite different from past cycles. In 2024, debates were organized through direct negotiations between campaigns and television networks rather than through the CPD. This ad-hoc model could continue in 2028.
As of mid-2026, the field for 2028 is not yet set, making it premature to schedule debates. Follow announcements from major television networks, the campaigns themselves, and the Commission on Presidential Debates for news about 2028 debate planning.
Related questions
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Related explainers
The 2028 U.S. presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2028. By law, Election Day falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
The 2028 presidential campaign effectively starts after the November 2026 midterms, with formal announcements expected through 2027 - historically 12 to 18 months before the first primaries in early 2028. There is no legal start date, and as of July 2026 no major candidate has formally declared.
Presidential nominees are chosen by their party's national convention, based on delegates won in state primaries and caucuses. The person who wins a majority of delegates becomes the official nominee.
See the live 2028 candidate trackerAll 2028 election questions