Local elections in the UK for 2026 largely took place on Thursday 7 May 2026, covering thousands of council seats across England, plus elections in Wales (Senedd) and Scotland (Scottish Parliament) on the same day.
What’s making the news (high level)
- Labour losing council control / more “no overall control” outcomes: Coverage highlights Labour losing control in areas including Birmingham, moving councils into hung or more fragmented control arrangements.
- Reform UK and the Greens gaining ground: Multiple outlets report Reform UK making major gains and the Green Party winning/controlling certain councils (and mayoral races), contributing to a more multi-party local political landscape.
- “Local elections as a referendum” narrative: Commentary around results frames them as a strong signal of voter mood toward major parties, with “insurgent” parties (notably Reform and Greens) taking larger shares of seats and vote.
Key context for 2026
- The Institute for Government notes the scale and structure of the English local election contests (including the number of councillors/councils involved and “shadow elections” tied to upcoming local government changes).[4]
If you mean “local to you”
You said “local elections 2026” from London. If you tell me your borough (e.g., Hackney, Camden, Lambeth) or whether you mean borough council vs London mayoral/assembly-related seats, I can narrow this to the most relevant headlines and results for your area.
Sources
new authority is delayed, elections may proceed in 2026 in the old council areas, with those newly elected acting as ‘shadow councillors’ for the new authorities. To give a scale of the numbers involved, the 66 councils that have scheduled elections for May 2026 but which are affected by local government reorganisation uncertainties, currently have 2,885 … Labour – elections for all 51 councillors in 17 wards Barnet Labour – elections for all 63 councillors in 21 wards Bexley Conservative –...
www.tusc.org.ukSir Keir Starmer insists he will not ‘walk away’ as party suffers historic defeat in Wales and the first minister resigns after losing her seat
www.thetimes.comSky News - First for Breaking News, video, headlines, analysis and top stories from business, politics, entertainment and more in the UK and worldwide.
news.sky.comGB News has taken a look at some of the key places to look out for as millions of voters across Britain will go to the polls in May
www.gbnews.comWhat do the 2026 local election results mean for councils? Explore the governance, procurement and operational implications for local authorities.
www.sharpepritchard.co.ukSir Keir Starmer insists he will not ‘walk away’ as party suffers historic defeat in Wales and the first minister resigns after losing her seat
www.thetimes.comLocal elections 2026: On 7 May, voters elect thousands of councillors across England, plus Senedd and Scottish Parliament members. Here’s why these elections matter.
www.compassonline.org.ukOn Thursday, 7 May 2026, local elections will take place in many parts of England.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk