| Country: | Kosovo |
| Type: | presidential |
| Previous Election: | 2011 Kosovan presidential election |
| Previous Year: | 2011 |
| Election Date: | 26 February |
| Next Election: | 2021 Kosovan presidential election |
| Next Year: | 2021 |
| Image1: | Hashim Thaçi official portrait (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Hashim Thaçi |
| Party1: | Democratic Party of Kosovo |
| Electoral Vote1: | 50, 64, 71 |
| Nominee2: | Rafet Rama |
| Party2: | Democratic Party of Kosovo |
| Electoral Vote2: | 4, 2, 0 |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Atifete Jahjaga |
| Before Party: | Independent |
| After Election: | Hashim Thaçi |
| After Party: | Democratic Party of Kosovo |
Presidential elections were held in Kosovo on 26 February 2016. They had originally been planned for 2013 following constitutional changes expected to be passed after the compromise reached after the indirect 2011 election.[1] However, on 6 July 2012, the Constitutional Court ruled that the presidential term could not be cut short in this way.[2]
Former Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi was elected after a third round of voting, defeating Rafet Rama.
In order to be elected, a candidate was required to receive at least 80 votes in the first two rounds of voting, equivalent to two-thirds of the 120 members of the Assembly. In the third round, the requirement was reduced to a simple majority of 60 votes.[3]