Voters across England will head to polling stations on Thursday, May 7, for the 2026 local elections, marking the most significant electoral test since Labour's general election victory in July 2024. Nearly 25,000 candidates are contesting more than 5,000 seats across 136 councils. Reform UK has fielded approximately 4,800 candidates, just under 100 fewer than Labour and about 50 more than the Conservatives. The Greens have almost 4,500 candidates, the Liberal Democrats just under 4,000, and over 2,000 candidates represent minor parties, independents, or residents' groups.
Labour is defending around 2,500 seats, which could pose challenges for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer if the party suffers significant losses. The Conservatives are defending 1,236 seats, the Liberal Democrats 706, the Greens 194, and Reform UK only 83, mostly from by-election victories or deflections since the last elections. Major cities, including all of London, are holding elections, alongside rural districts and county councils. This is the largest set of local elections in England in three years.
Mayoral Elections
Mayoral contests are taking place in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, and Tower Hamlets in London, as well as Watford in Hertfordshire. Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm on May 7. The first results are expected within hours, with the final results on the evening of Saturday, May 9. All mayoral elections will be counted on Friday, May 8: Hackney and Newham expected at 1pm, Watford at 2pm, Lewisham at 3pm, Croydon at 4pm, and Tower Hamlets around 6pm.
Exit Polls
No authoritative pollster has announced an exit poll for these local elections. However, several have released national voting intention polls ahead of the event. The Independent has compiled a round-up of these polls.
Welsh and Scottish Parliament Elections
On the same day, elections are taking place for the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) and the Scottish Parliament. Below are estimated declaration times for each constituency.
Welsh Parliament Estimated Declaration Times
- Afan Ogwr Rhondda: 3.30pm
- Bangor Conwy Mon: 3pm
- Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni: 3pm
- Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd: 3pm
- Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf: 3pm
- Caerdydd Penarth: 3pm
- Casnewydd Islwyn: 2pm
- Ceredigion Penfro: 3pm
- Clwyd: 3pm
- Fflint Wrecsam: 5.30pm
- Gwyr Abertawe: 2pm
- Gwynedd Maldwyn: 3.30pm
- Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg: 3pm
- Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr: 4pm
- Sir Fynwy Torfaen: 2pm
- Sir Gaerfyrddin: 4pm
Scottish Parliament Estimated Declaration Times
- Aberdeen Central: 3.30pm
- Aberdeen Deeside & North Kincardine: 3.30pm
- Aberdeen Donside: 3.30pm
- Aberdeenshire East: 3.30pm
- Aberdeenshire West: 3.30pm
- Airdrie: 12pm
- Almond Valley: 2pm
- Angus North & Mearns: 4pm
- Angus South: 4pm
- Argyll & Bute: 3pm
- Ayr: 1pm
- Banffshire & Buchan Coast: 3.30pm
- Bathgate: 2pm
- Caithness, Sutherland & Ross: 4pm
- Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley: 4pm
- Clackmannanshire & Dunblane: 4pm
- Clydebank & Milngavie: 5pm
- Clydesdale: 4pm
- Coatbridge & Chryston: 1pm
- Cowdenbeath: 3pm
- Cumbernauld & Kilsyth: 2pm
- Cunninghame North: 2.30pm
- Cunninghame South: 2.30pm
- Dumbarton: 5pm
- Dumfriesshire: 3.30pm
- Dundee City East: 4pm
- Dundee City West: 4pm
- Dunfermline: 4pm
- East Kilbride: 4pm
- East Lothian Coast & Lammermuirs: 3pm
- Eastwood: 4pm
- Edinburgh Central: 3pm
- Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh & Tranent: 3pm
- Edinburgh North Eastern & Leith: 3pm
- Edinburgh Northern: 3pm
- Edinburgh North Western: 3pm
- Edinburgh Southern: 3pm
- Edinburgh South Western: 3pm
- Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire: 4.30pm
- Falkirk East & Linlithgow: 4.30pm
- Falkirk West: 4pm
- Fife Mid & Glenrothes: 3pm
- Fife North East: 3pm
- Galloway & Dumfries West: 3.30pm
- Glasgow Anniesland: 2.15pm
- Glasgow Baillieston & Shettleston: 2.45pm
- Glasgow Cathcart & Pollock: 3.45pm
- Glasgow Central: 3pm
- Glasgow Easterhouse & Springburn: 2.30pm
- Glasgow Kelvin & Maryhill: 3.30pm
- Glasgow Southside: 3.15pm
- Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse: 4pm
- Inverclyde: 4.30pm
- Inverness & Nairn: 6.30pm
- Kilmarnock & Irvine Valley: 4pm
- Kirkcaldy: 3pm
- Midlothian North: 4pm
- Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale: 4.30pm
- Moray: 2pm
- Motherwell & Wishaw: 3pm
- Na h-Eileanan an Iar: 1.30pm
- Orkney Islands: 2.30pm
- Paisley: 3pm
- Perthshire North: 2pm
- Perthshire South & Kinross-shire: 2pm
- Renfrewshire North & Cardonald: 3pm
- Renfrewshire West & Levern Valley: 3pm
- Rutherglen & Cambuslang: 4pm
- Shetland Islands: 2.30pm
- Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch: 6.30pm
- Stirling: 4pm
- Strathkelvin & Bearsden: 2pm
- Uddingston & Bellshill: 4pm
- Edinburgh & Lothians East: 6pm
