On March 7, 2026, the four primary candidates for the Nice mayoralty gathered for a debate hosted by BFMTV in partnership with Le Figaro, just one week ahead of the first round of municipal elections scheduled for March 15. The candidates included Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux from the United Left, Éric Ciotti of the UDR, Mireille Damiano of LFI - Viva!, and the incumbent mayor Christian Estrosi representing Horizons. This debate served as a significant platform for the candidates to present their visions and plans for the city's future to the electorate.

Tension was palpable during the debate, particularly between Estrosi and Ciotti, who were once allies but are now prominent rivals. A recent Elabe-Berger Levrault survey indicated that Ciotti, a nationalist candidate, poses a substantial challenge to Estrosi, suggesting that he could potentially overturn his former mentor in the race. The survey results indicated that Ciotti could lead the polls with 41% of the vote in the first round, indicating a shift in public sentiment and a growing competitive landscape for the upcoming elections.

As candidates sharpened their arguments, discussions ranged from local governance issues to broader political ideologies, reflecting the contentious atmosphere in French politics leading up to the municipal elections. The voters will soon have the chance to weigh the candidates' propositions against one another, shaping the future leadership of Nice, a city with its unique political pressures and community needs, as the elections draw near.