The history of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina begins in 1974, when the Constitution of the then Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the framework of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, established a new institution in the socio-political system. At that time, the Presidency consisted of 9 Members, but after the first multiparty elections in December 1990, it had 7 Members - two Bosniac, two Serb, two Croat, and one Member representing the rest of the peoples. 

The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the current Constitution, is defined as the highest state institution. The function of collective Head of State is equally carried out by three Members from the constitutive people of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the Bosniac, Serb, and Croat people. Constitutional jurisdictions of the Presidency are defined by Article 5 of the Constitution, which represents a special Annex to the General Framework Agreement for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was initialed in Dayton on 21 November 1995 and officially signed in Paris on 14 December 1995. 

The first convening of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was elected in September 1996 during the first postwar elections. It was directly elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosniac and Croat Member) and from Republika Srpska (Serb Member). Alija Izetbegović was elected as the Bosniac Member of the Presidency, Momčilo Krajišnik as the Serb Member of the Presidency, and Krešimir Zubak as the Croat Member of the Presidency. This session of the Presidency carried out its duties until October 1998, when election results from that same year were implemented and when the second session of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was constituted. 

The second convening of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was constituted in October 1998. In general elections that same year, elected to the Presidency were: Alija Izetbegović as the Bosniac Member of the Presidency, Živko Radišić as the Serb Member of the Presidency and Ante Jelavić as the Croat Member of the Presidency. In October 2000, in a personal decision, Alija Izetbegovic resigned from office. The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina appointed Halid Genjac to replace him on a temporary basis, in accordance with the Law on filling a vacancy left by a Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In March 2001, the High Representative, in a personal decision, removed from office the Member of the Presidency Ante Jelavic. 

From the end of March 2001, in accordance with the Law on filling a vacancy left by a Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Parliamentary Assembly appointed Beriz Belkić as the Bosniac Member of the Presidency and Jozo Križanović as the Croat Member of the Presidency. Živko Radišić remained in office as the Serb Member of the Presidency. 

Following general elections in October 2002, the third convening of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was elected, consisting of: Mirko Sarovic, the Serb Member of the Presidency, Dr. Dragan Čović, the Croat Member of the Presidency, and Sulejman Tihić, the Bosniac Member of the Presidency. At the constitutive meeting, Mirko Šarović was chosen as the first Chair of the new session. After he resigned from office in April 2003, Mirko Sarovic was replaced by Borislav Paravac as the Serb Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

In March 2005, Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative for B-H, dismissed Dr. Dragan Čović from a position of the BiH Presidency Member from the Croatian people.

After the decision of Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative for B-H on dismissal of Dr Dragan Covic, the B-H Parliamentary Assembly has reached a decision on electing Ivo Miro Jović for a member of the Presidency from the Croatian people based on the Law on filling vacant position of member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After the general elections in October 2006, the fourth convocation of the BiH Presidency has been elected, composed of: Nebojša Radmanović, the BiH Presidency Member from the Republic of Srpska, Željko Komšić, the BiH Presidency Member from the Croatian People and dr. Haris Silajdžić, the BiH Presidency Member from the Bosniac people.

At the constitutional session of the BiH Presidency, held on November 6, 2006, Nebojša Radmanović has been first elected Chairman of the BiH Presidency.

After general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina held in October 2010, fifth BiH Presidency was convoked. It now consists of Nebojša Radmanović, BiH Presidency Member from Republika Srpska, Željko Komšić, Croat Member of BiH Presidency and Bakir Izetbegović, Bosniak Member of BiH Presidency.

On the constitutive session, held on 10 November 2010, Nebojša Radmanović was chosen to be the first Chairman of the BiH Presidency.

After general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina held in October 2014, sixth BiH Presidency was convoked. It now consists of dr. Mladen Ivanić, BiH Presidency Member from Republika Srpska, Dr. Dragan Čović, Croat Member of BiH Presidency and Bakir Izetbegović, Bosniak Member of BiH Presidency.

On the constitutive session, held on 17 November 2014, Dr. Mladen Ivanić was chosen to be the first Chairman of the BiH Presidency.

After general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina held in October 2018, seventh BiH Presidency was convoked. It now consists of Milorad Dodik, Serb BiH Presidency Member, Željko Komšić, Croat Member of BiH Presidency and Šefik Džaferović, Member of BiH Presidency.

On the constitutive session, held on 20 November 2018, Milorad Dodik was chosen to be the first Chairman of the BiH Presidency.

After general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina held in October 2022, eight BiH Presidency was convoked. It now consists of Željka Cvijanović, Serb BiH Presidency Member, Željko Komšić, Croat Member of BiH Presidency and Dr. Denis Bećirović, Member of BiH Presidency.

On the constitutive session, held on 16 November 2022, Željka Cvijanović was chosen to be the first Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency.

Chairs of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Since 1998, in accordance with the Constitution and Rules of Procedure, every eight months the Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina rotates. From 1996 to 1998, Alija Izetbegović carried out the duties of the Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Alija Izetbegović  (October 1996 - October 1998) 

Živko Radišić  (October 1998 - June 1999) 

Ante Jelavić  (June 1999 - February 2000) 

Alija Izetbegović  (February 2000 - October 2000) 

Živko Radišić  (October 2000 - June 2001) 

Jozo Križanović  (June 2001 - February 2002) 

Beriz Belkić  (February 2002 - October 2002) 

Mirko Šarović  ( October 2002 - April 2003) 

Borislav Paravac  (April 2003 - June 2003) 

Dragan Čović  (June 2003 - February 2004) 

Sulejman Tihić  (March 2004 - October 2004)

Borislav Paravac (October 2004 -  June 2005)

Ivo Miro Jović (June 2005 - February 2006)

Sulejman Tihić (February 2006 - November 2006)

Nebojša Radmanović (November 2006 - July 2007)

Željko Komšić (July 2007 - March 2008)

Haris Silajdžić (March 2008 - November 2008)

Nebojša Radmanović (November 2008 - July 2009)

Željko Komšić (July 2009 - March 2010)

Haris Silajdžić (March 2010 - November 2010)

Nebojša Radmanović (November 2010. - July 2011)

Željko Komšić (July 2011. - March 2012)

Bakir Izetbegović (March 2012 - November 2012)

Nebojša Radmanović (November 2012  - Јuly 2013)

Željko Komšić (July 2013 - March 2014)

Bakir Izetbegović (March 2014 - November 2014)

Mladen Ivanić (November 2014 - July 2015)

Dragan Čović (July 2015 - March 2016)

Bakir Izetbegović (March 2016 - November 2016)

Mladen Ivanić (November 2016 - July 2017)  

Dragan Čović (July 2017 - March 2017)

Bakir Izetbegović (March 2018 - November 2018)

Milorad Dodik (November 2018 - July 2019)

Željko Komšić (July 2019 - March 2020)

Šefik Džaferović (March 2020 - November 2020)

Milorad Dodik (November 2020 - July 2021)

Željko Komšić (July 2021 - March 2022)

Šefik Džaferović (March 2022 - November 2022)

Željka Cvijanović (November 2022 - July 2023)

Željko Komšić (July 2023 - March 2024)

Dr. Denis Bećirović (March 2024 - November 2024)

Željka Cvijanović (November 2024 - July 2025)

Željko Komšić (July 2025 - March 2026)

Dr. Denis Bećirović (March 2026 - )