The early elections, which will take place eight months after the last regional legislatures on 26 May, follow the dissolution of parliament by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in response to the political crisis that was set off in January. Applications were submitted by 15 April and, on 22 April, the president of the District of Madeira issued an order admitting all lists.

The National Democratic Alternative (ADN) was ranked first on the ballot paper of the regional constituency, followed by the Left Bloc (BE), the Socialist Party (PS), Livre (L), the Liberal Initiative (IL), React, Include, Recycle (RIR), the CDU – Unitary Democratic Coalition, Chega (CH), the CDS Popular Party (CDS-PP), the Land Party (MPT), the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD), People-Animals-Nature (PAN), the Portuguese Labor Party (PTP) and ‘Juntos Pelo Povo’ (JPP).

After splitting from the CDS, which has been in the executive for the past two terms, the PSD, which has ruled Madeira for nearly 50 years, will now face off against each other using separate lists. The only coalition that keeps coming back is the CDU. Miguel Pita (ADN), Roberto Almada (BE), Nuno Morna (IL), Edgar Silva (CDU), Miguel Castro (CH), Válter Rodrigues (MPT), Miguel Albuquerque, President Resignation of the Madeira Executive (PSD), Mónica Freitas (PAN), and Élvio Sousa (JPP) are the list heads that most contenders appear to be repeating.

The PSD is "falling rotten, tied up, trapped in a web of interests," according to the PS, which has historically maintained its position as the biggest opposition party in Madeira and views itself as "the only alternative" for the leadership of the Regional Government. The ADN seeks to help keep the PSD from winning an absolute majority and hopes to improve the election performance it received seven months prior when it was "below expectations" and did not win representation in parliament. The PSD/CDS-PP combination secured 23 of the 47 mandates granted last year; the PS elected 11, the JPP five, and Chega four; the CDU, IL, PAN, and BE each elected one deputy.