The largest set of local elections in England in three years is set to take place on Thursday, May 7, 2026, with more than 5,000 council seats up for grabs across 136 local authorities. These elections include major cities and the whole of London, along with a mix of urban and rural districts and several county councils. This vote is a critical test for all political parties, particularly for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party.
Key Facts: Seats and Defences
A total of 5,013 seats are being contested. Most were last elected in 2022, when the then-Conservative government under Boris Johnson was trailing Labour in the polls and losing support due to the Partygate scandal. In 2022, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens made gains at the Tories' expense, while Reform UK won only two seats.
This year, Labour is defending 2,557 seats, the Conservatives 1,362, the Liberal Democrats 684, and other parties (including independents) 410. These numbers, calculated by professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher of Exeter University, include seats affected by boundary changes where notional defending parties have been estimated.
Polling and Trends
Analysis by Rallings and Thrasher suggests Labour could lose over 1,000 councillors if the party performs as poorly as it did in May 2025, when both Labour and the Conservatives lost seats to Reform, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and independents. Since May 2025, Labour's vote share in local by-elections has dropped by an average of 25 percent, which could push losses closer to 2,000.
The Conservatives face particular risk in six county council elections, where Reform's strong performance could lead to dozens of seats changing hands. Reform, the Lib Dems, and the Greens are all expected to make net gains, with Nigel Farage's party starting from a low base.
Challenges for Main Parties
Local elections primarily affect community services like bin collections, social care, education, and roads, but they also reflect national issues. Voter concerns include the cost of living, the economy, migration, and foreign affairs, according to YouGov. Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch both face the challenge of limiting losses, while Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, Reform leader Nigel Farage, and Green leader Zack Polanski aim to make gains and meet supporter expectations.
Results Timeline
Polls close at 10pm on May 7, but only about a third of councils will count and declare results overnight. Most councils will begin counting on Friday, May 8, with full results expected in the early afternoon. A few councils may not finish until Saturday, May 9.
Other UK Elections
On the same day, elections are also being held for the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales.
