2026 United Kingdom local elections

In 2026, the United Kingdom faces a massive electoral event as thousands of council seats and several mayoral positions across England are up for grabs. These elections, often overlooked by national headlines, are crucial barometers of public sentiment and shape the everyday lives of millions. But this year's contests come with an unusual twist—a last-minute government attempt to postpone some elections, sparking a political and legal firestorm. The 2026 local elections are a vast and complex series of polls across 136 English local authorities, involving over 5,000 council seats and several directly elected mayors. A controversial government plan to postpone many of these elections due to local government reorganization was ultimately withdrawn after criticism and a legal challenge. These elections will be a critical test for the ruling Labour Party under Keir Starmer, especially as opposition parties like Reform UK and the Greens show surging popularity amidst various scandals.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

The 2026 local elections are a vast and complex series of polls across 136 English local authorities, involving over 5,000 council seats and several directly elected mayors.
A controversial government plan to postpone many of these elections due to local government reorganization was ultimately withdrawn after criticism and a legal challenge.
These elections will be a critical test for the ruling Labour Party under Keir Starmer, especially as opposition parties like Reform UK and the Greens show surging popularity amidst various scandals.

A Sweeping Democratic Exercise

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, England will embark on a truly monumental democratic exercise. Voters will head to the polls to elect 5,014 councillors across 136 local authorities, alongside choosing six directly elected mayors. This isn't just one election; it's a vast mosaic of local contests shaping communities from bustling London boroughs to quiet county councils.

A Contested Calendar

However, the path to these elections hasn't been smooth. Late in 2025, the government floated a controversial idea: postponing some of these local elections. The stated reason was to accommodate ongoing local government reorganizations, which aimed to streamline administrative structures in various regions.

This move immediately drew sharp criticism. The Electoral Commission, the independent body overseeing elections, questioned the credibility of the government's reasoning, calling the uncertainty 'unprecedented.' They pointed out a clear conflict of interest in asking councils to decide when they'd next face voters.

Opposition parties also lashed out, accusing the Labour government of attempting to suppress democratic participation. Initially, 30 of 63 councils invited to consider postponement confirmed delays. But the story took another turn...

Following a legal challenge from Reform UK—a party that had made significant gains in previous local elections—the government dramatically withdrew its postponement plans in February 2026. Legal advice suggested the delays could be unlawful, paving the way for all scheduled elections to proceed as planned.

The Political Backdrop

These elections are more than just local skirmishes; they are the second major test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government. The polls arrive at a challenging time, with Labour reportedly facing unpopularity due to various political scandals, including the highly publicized relationship involving Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.

This backdrop has created fertile ground for opposition parties. Reform UK and the Green Party have both seen their popularity surge in national polls, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape that could be reflected at the local level.

Green Party's Momentum

The Green Party, under its newly elected leader Zack Polanski, has been particularly ascendant. In January 2026, they secured a council seat from Reform UK in a Derbyshire by-election—a significant milestone.

Even more remarkably, Green candidate Hannah Spencer won the Gorton and Denton by-election, attracting a broad coalition of left-wing, working-class, and Muslim voters. This victory, which saw Labour fall to third place, marked the Green Party's first-ever parliamentary by-election win and their fifth MP.

Reform UK's Ambitious Campaign

Reform UK is also pushing hard, with Nigel Farage announcing an ambitious 'double or quits' campaign. He committed to spending over £5 million on direct mail and social media, calling these local elections the 'single most important event' before the next general election. The party received a substantial £9 million donation in August 2025, fueling their efforts.

Farage officially launched Reform's local election campaign in March 2026 at a live-streamed event on the Isle of Wight, kicking off a planned series of nationwide rallies designed to energize their base.

Who's Voting Where?

The 2026 elections encompass a diverse range of local authorities, each with its own electoral cycle and political dynamics. From the heart of the capital to rural shires, these votes will shape services and policies that directly affect local communities.

London Boroughs

All 32 London boroughs will hold elections for every councillor, following their normal four-year schedule. The last elections in 2022 saw Labour achieve one of its best results in London, while the Conservatives recorded their lowest-ever number of councillors in the capital. This year will be a test of whether those trends continue.

Council	Seats	Previous Party Control
Barking and Dagenham	51	Labour
Barnet	63	Labour
Bexley	45	Conservative
Brent	57	Labour
Camden	55	Labour
Croydon	70	No overall control (Conservative minority)
Ealing	70	Labour
Havering	55	No overall control (HRA/Labour coalition)
Hillingdon	53	Conservative
Islington	51	Labour
Kensington and Chelsea	50	Conservative
Kingston upon Thames	48	Liberal Democrats
Lambeth	63	Labour
Lewisham	54	Labour
Merton	57	Labour
Newham	66	Labour
Richmond upon Thames	54	Liberal Democrats
Southwark	63	Labour
Sutton	55	Liberal Democrats
Tower Hamlets	45	Aspire
Wandsworth	58	Labour
Westminster	54	Labour

Metropolitan Boroughs

Thirty-two of England's 36 metropolitan boroughs will also hold elections. Some, like Birmingham and St Helens, will elect all their councillors as part of a four-year cycle. Others, such as Bolton and Leeds, will see only a third of their council seats contested in their annual rotation.

Unitary Authorities

Many unitary authorities, which combine district and county council functions, will also have elections. Notably, the newly created East Surrey and West Surrey councils will elect all their councillors for the first time, replacing the previous two-tier system in those areas. Other unitary authorities will elect a third of their councillors, or all due to boundary changes, as seen in Swindon and Milton Keynes.

County and District Councils

Six county councils, including Essex and Hampshire, will see all their councillors up for election. Below these, a substantial number of district councils will also vote, with some electing all councillors, some half, and many others electing a third of their representatives. This staggered system means local accountability is an ongoing process.

Mayoral Elections

In addition to council seats, several directly elected mayoralties are also on the ballot in England. These include significant roles in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Watford, giving residents the chance to directly choose their local executive leader.

Overall, Labour is defending more than 2,500 seats, the Conservatives over 1,300, and the Liberal Democrats just under 700. The 2026 local elections are not merely a footnote; they are a vital snapshot of the nation's political pulse, with potential implications for future general elections and the very fabric of local governance.

Article

2026 United Kingdom local elections

The 2026 United Kingdom local elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 7 May 2026 for 5,014 council seats across 136 English local authorities (all 32 London borough councils, 32 metropolitan boroughs, 18 unitary authorities, 6 county councils, 48 district councils) and six directly elected mayors in England. Most of these seats in England were last up for election in (/wiki/2022UnitedKingdomlocalelections). Some of these elections were postponed from 2025.

In December 2025, the government invited 63 councils to raise capacity concerns with ongoing local government reorganisation and request a postponement of their 2026 local election, after also postponing 6 combined authority mayoral elections that were scheduled to occur on the same day. This move prompted criticism from the Electoral Commission which questioned the credibility of the reasoning given and said that it caused "unprecedented" uncertainty. The commission stated that "There is a clear conflict of interest in asking existing Councils to decide how long it will be before they are answerable to voters". Opposition parties also criticised the decision, accusing Labour of denying people the right to vote. By February 2026, the government confirmed 30 of the 63 council elections have been postponed. However, following a legal challenge by Reform UK, who made major gains in the previous local elections, on 16 February 2026, the government withdrew its plans to delay elections, with all scheduled elections and delayed elections from 2025 taking place, after receiving legal advice that the move could be unlawful.

These will be the second set of local elections during the premiership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and will take place amid unpopularity towards the governing Labour Party amid scandals including the relationship of Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein, with the Reform UK and Green Party opposition parties rising sharply in popularity polls. After the election of Zack Polanski as leader, the Greens gained a council seat from Reform UK for the first time in a Derbyshire by-election in January 2026. Green candidate Hannah Spencer won the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election, defeating Reform UK, with the incumbent Labour Party falling to third place. On 7 May 2026, there will also be devolved elections to the Senedd and the Scottish Parliament.

Background

2026 United Kingdom local elections

Post-1998 ceremonial counties of England by year of restructuring

The English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024 set out the Labour government's plans for local government reorganisation, involving the remaining two-tier counties of England being abolished with elections to new unitary authorities. Some of the elections scheduled for May 2025 were delayed by a year in order to allow reorganisation to take place. At least 13 of the 21 county councils asked the government to delay their elections. On 5 February 2025, the government announced that elections to nine councils (seven county councils and two unitary authorities) would not take place in 2025 to allow restructuring to take place, with elections to reformed or newly created replacement authorities taking place in 2026.

By November 2025, it had been announced that Surrey County Council and the districts included in it would be replaced by new unitary authorities, but the government have said that other initially-scheduled 2025 elections will take place in the existing local government structure unless there is "strong justification otherwise", with the process of creating new unitary authorities delayed. Four new combined authority mayoral elections — Greater Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton — were delayed to 2028, having been originally scheduled for 2026.

London boroughs

2026 United Kingdom local elections

Elections for all councillors in all thirty-two London boroughs will be held in 2026 in line with their normal election schedule. The previous elections to London borough councils were held in (/wiki/2022Londonlocalelections), which saw Labour win its second-best result in any London election and the Conservatives return their lowest-ever number of councillors in the capital.

<table><thead><tr><th>Council</th><th>Seats</th><th>Party control</th><th>Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Previous</td><td>New</td></tr><tr><td>Barking and Dagenham</td><td>51</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Barnet</td><td>63</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Bexley</td><td>45</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Brent</td><td>57</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Bromley</td><td>58</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Camden</td><td>55</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Croydon</td><td>70</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Conservative minority)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Ealing</td><td>70</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Enfield</td><td>63</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Greenwich</td><td>55</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hackney</td><td>57</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hammersmith and Fulham</td><td>50</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Haringey</td><td>57</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Harrow</td><td>55</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Havering</td><td>55</td><td></td><td>No overall control (HRA/Labour coalition)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hillingdon</td><td>53</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hounslow</td><td>62</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Islington</td><td>51</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Kensington and Chelsea</td><td>50</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Kingston upon Thames</td><td>48</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Lambeth</td><td>63</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Lewisham</td><td>54</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Merton</td><td>57</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Newham</td><td>66</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Redbridge</td><td>63</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Richmond upon Thames</td><td>54</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Southwark</td><td>63</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Sutton</td><td>55</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Tower Hamlets</td><td>45</td><td></td><td>Aspire</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Waltham Forest</td><td>60</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Wandsworth</td><td>58</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Westminster</td><td>54</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>All 32 councils</td><td>1,817</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Metropolitan boroughs

2026 United Kingdom local elections

There are thirty-six metropolitan boroughs, which are single-tier local authorities. Thirty-two of them have an election in 2026 (Doncaster, Liverpool, Wirral and Rotherham do not). Of these, Birmingham City Council and St Helens Council hold their elections on a four-year cycle from 2022, so are due to hold an election in 2026. In 2025 Barnsley Council held a public consultation regarding the permanent adoption of the whole council election cycle, which has since been confirmed. Barnsley is going to hold its elections on a four-year cycle starting from 2026.

The remaining twenty-nine councils generally elect a third of their councillors every year for three years with no election in each fourth year, on the same timetable which includes elections in 2026. Thirteen of these metropolitan borough councils have all of their councillors up for election in 2026 rather than the usual one-third, following ward boundary changes from their LGBCE electoral review. All thirteen will likely be reverting to thirds in 2027, 2028 and 2030.

Elections for all councillors

Elections for one third of councillors

Unitary authorities

2026 United Kingdom local elections

Most of these unitary authorities elect councillors in thirds, with councillors elected in 2022 up for reelection in 2026. Swindon and Milton Keynes elect councillors by thirds, but have all seats up in 2026 due to new ward boundaries. Thurrock and Isle of Wight both have all-up elections delayed from 2025. East Surrey and West Surrey are both newly-created councils with all councillors to be elected.

Elections for all councillors

Elections for one third of councillors

Mayors

Local authorities

<table><thead><tr><th>Council</th><th>Mayor before</th><th>Elected mayor</th><th>Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Croydon</td><td></td><td>Jason Perry (Con)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hackney</td><td></td><td>Caroline Woodley (Labour Co-op)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Lewisham</td><td></td><td>Brenda Dacres (Labour Co-op)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Newham</td><td></td><td>Rokhsana Fiaz (Labour Co-op)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Tower Hamlets</td><td></td><td>Lutfur Rahman (Aspire)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Watford</td><td></td><td>Peter Taylor (Lib Dem)</td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr></tbody></table>

County councils

2026 United Kingdom local elections

<table><thead><tr><th>Council</th><th>Seats</th><th>Party control</th><th>Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Previous</td><td>Result</td></tr><tr><td>East Sussex</td><td>50</td><td></td><td>No overall control</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Essex</td><td>78</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hampshire</td><td>78</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Norfolk</td><td>84</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Suffolk</td><td>70</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>West Sussex</td><td>70</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>6 councils</td><td>430</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

District councils

Elections for all councillors

<table><thead><tr><th>Council</th><th>Seats</th><th>Party control</th><th>Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Previous</td><td>New</td></tr><tr><td>Huntingdonshire</td><td>52</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem/Independent/Labour/Green coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Newcastle-under-Lyme</td><td>44</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>South Cambridgeshire</td><td>45</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>3 councils</td><td>141</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Elections for half of councillors

Elections for one third of councillors

<table><thead><tr><th>Council</th><th>Seats</th><th>Party control</th><th>Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>up</td><td>of</td><td>Previous</td><td>New</td></tr><tr><td>Basildon</td><td>14</td><td>42</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Labour/Independent coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Basingstoke and Deane</td><td>18</td><td>54</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem/Independent coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Brentwood</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem/Labour coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Broxbourne</td><td>10</td><td>30</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Burnley</td><td>15</td><td>45</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Burnley Independent/Lib Dem/Green coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Cambridge</td><td>14</td><td>42</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Cannock Chase</td><td>12</td><td>36</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Cherwell</td><td>16</td><td>48</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem/Green/independent minority coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Chorley</td><td>14</td><td>42</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Colchester</td><td>17</td><td>51</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem/Labour coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Crawley</td><td>12</td><td>36</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Eastleigh</td><td>14</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Epping Forest</td><td>18</td><td>54</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Conservative minority)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Exeter</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Harlow</td><td>11</td><td>33</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hart</td><td>11</td><td>33</td><td></td><td>No overall control (CCH/Lib Dem coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Havant</td><td>12</td><td>36</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Labour/Lib Dem/Green coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Hyndburn</td><td>11</td><td>35</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Ipswich</td><td>16</td><td>48</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Lincoln</td><td>11</td><td>33</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Norwich</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Labour minority)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Pendle</td><td>10</td><td>33</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem/Ind coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Preston</td><td>16</td><td>48</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Redditch</td><td>9</td><td>27</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Rochford</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Conservative/Rochford Residents/Ind coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Rugby</td><td>14</td><td>42</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Labour minority)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Rushmoor</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Labour minority)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>St Albans</td><td>20</td><td>56</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Stevenage</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Tamworth</td><td>10</td><td>30</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Three Rivers</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem minority)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Tunbridge Wells</td><td>13</td><td>39</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Watford</td><td>12</td><td>36</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Welwyn Hatfield</td><td>16</td><td>48</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Labour/Lib Dem coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>West Lancashire</td><td>15</td><td>45</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Labour minority)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>West Oxfordshire</td><td>16</td><td>49</td><td></td><td>No overall control (Lib Dem/Labour/Green coalition)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Winchester</td><td>15</td><td>45</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Worthing</td><td>13</td><td>37</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td><td></td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>38 councils</td><td>516</td><td>1,545</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Campaigns

2026 United Kingdom local elections

According to the BBC, Labour are defending more than 2,500 seats, the Conservatives over 1,300 and the Liberal Democrats just under 700.

Green Party

Following the election of Zack Polanski as Green Party leader, the party rose sharply in popularity polls. The party gained their first seat from Reform UK, in a Derbyshire by-election in January 2026. Hannah Spencer won the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election after attracting a coalition of left-wing voters, working class voters, and Muslim voters disgruntled by the policies of the Starmer government and Labour's handling of the Gaza war. Spencer won the by-election with a majority of 4,402 votes to become the Green Party's fifth MP and first in the North of England. This was also the first ever parliamentary by-election win for the Greens.

Reform UK

On 1 January 2026, Nigel Farage announced he wanted to go "double or quits" by planning to spend more than £5 million over the next four months in the run-up to the local elections, saying he wanted to spend "every single penny in the bank account" on a mass direct mail and social media campaign. He called this year's set of local elections the "single most important event" before the next general election. In August 2025, Reform UK received a £9 million donation from Christopher Harborne.

On 10 March 2026, Farage launched Reform's local election campaign at a live-streamed event with 1,500 supporters at GG's restaurant, in Newport, Isle of Wight. This was the first in a planned nationwide series of rallies.

Conservatives

On 19 March 2026, Kemi Badenoch launched the Conservative campaign for the local elections at an event at Sinfonia Smith Square in Westminster, London.

Liberal Democrats

On 24 March 2026, Ed Davey launched the Liberal Democrat campaign for the local elections at an event in Lovelace Lodge, in East Horsley, Surrey.

Labour

On 20 March 2026, General Secretary of Unite Sharon Graham said in a speech to refuse workers near a waste depot in Tyseley, Birmingham that Labour will be "decimated" in the upcoming local elections and should "hang their heads in shame" over its handling of the Birmingham bin strike.

On 30 March 2026, Keir Starmer launched Labour's local election campaign at City of Wolverhampton College, West Midlands. According to ITV, Wolverhampton is one of Labour's safest councils in the region and Keir Starmer denied Birmingham was a "lost cause". The BBC said Labour is going into the elections with consistently low poll ratings.