Local elections were held in Portugal on Sunday, 12 December 1976.

The Communists led coalition, the Electoral Front United People, dominated the election in the South of the country, with more than 17 percent of the votes and elected 37 mayors.

The right-wing Democratic Social Center, following their strong showing in the 1976 April legislative election, achieved its best result ever in local elections, almost 17 percent of the votes and 36 mayors.

Turnout in these elections was quite low, as 64.7% of the electorate cast a ballot, compared with the 83.5% turnout rate of the 1976 general elections in April.

The main political forces involved in the election: The following table lists party control in all district capitals, highlighted in bold, as well as in municipalities above 100,000 inhabitants.