Swedish government announces 2026 spring budget with fuel tax cuts and expanded IVF funding

The Swedish government’s 2026 spring budget includes a temporary reduction in fuel taxes, expanded subsidies for IVF treatments, and new support measures for electricity costs, SVT Nyheter reports.

Fuel tax cut from May to September

The centre-right coalition and the Sweden Democrats will lower taxes on petrol and diesel to the EU minimum level, reducing prices by 1 SEK per litre for petrol and 0.40 SEK for diesel. The cut, costing the state 1.6 billion SEK, applies from 1 May to 30 September.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Moderates) stated that no country “can support [such measures] indefinitely—and it won’t be necessary.”

New electricity subsidies for households

A 2.4 billion SEK support package will provide one-time payments based on January–February 2026 consumption. A family in northern Sweden would receive around 1,100 SEK, while households in Stockholm and southern Sweden would get 1,600 SEK and 1,850 SEK respectively. Businesses are excluded.

Expanded IVF funding and healthcare boost

The budget allocates 564 million SEK to healthcare, with 327 million SEK doubling the number of free IVF attempts for involuntarily childless couples. An additional 250 million SEK will fund temporary staffing at clinics and hospitals ahead of summer.

Other measures include a 112 million SEK vaccination package for elderly pneumococcal catch-up jabs, and 100 million SEK to strengthen the rural electric vehicle subsidy—raising support to 46,800 SEK over three years for low-income households with poor public transport access.

Education initiatives

Primary school pupils will receive enhanced language training via a 30 million SEK “language breakfast” programme. Homework support and school book purchases will each get an extra 50 million SEK.