England Local Election Results 2026 LIVE:Â Local elections across England are among the most closely watched political events, as they offer a strong indication of public mood at the grassroots level. The 2026 elections are particularly significant, with thousands of councillors being elected and several councils expected to change control. Here is a complete guide to results, timing, seats, and key details.
England Local Election 2026 Result Date
The results for the 2026 local elections in England begin to come in from the night of Thursday, 7 May 2026, soon after polling closes at 10 PM. Counting starts immediately in many councils, with early results declared within a few hours.
Most results are announced throughout Friday, 8 May, while some councils, especially larger ones, continue counting into Saturday, 9 May 2026.
England Local Election 2026 Result Time
There is no single fixed result time. Most councils begin announcing results late at night on 7 May and throughout 8 May 2026, depending on counting speed. Key battleground councils often declare early, while larger areas may take longer.
England Local Election Result 2026 Expected Time of Full Council List
| S. No. | Council Name | Expected Result Time |
| 1 | Adur | 6:00 PM |
| 2 | Barking & Dagenham | 5:00 PM |
| 3 | Barnet | 5:00 PM |
| 4 | Barnsley | 4:30 PM |
| 5 | Basildon | 3:00 AM |
| 6 | Basingstoke & Deane | 4:00 PM |
| 7 | Bexley | 5:00 AM |
| 8 | Birmingham | 6:00 PM |
| 9 | Blackburn | 12:30 PM |
| 10 | Bolton | 3:00 AM |
| 11 | Bradford | 4:00 PM (Saturday, May 9) |
| 12 | Brent | 5:00 PM |
| 13 | Brentwood | 3:00 AM |
| 14 | Bromley | 7:00 PM |
| 15 | Broxbourne | 1:00 AM |
| 16 | Burnley | 1:00 PM |
| 17 | Bury | 4:30 PM |
| 18 | Calderdale | 8:30 PM |
| 19 | Cambridge | 5:00 PM |
| 20 | Camden | 6:00 PM |
| 21 | Cannock Chase | 3:00 PM |
| 22 | Cheltenham | 2:00 PM |
| 23 | Cherwell | 7:00 PM |
| 24 | Chorley | 2:00 AM |
| 25 | Colchester | 3:30 AM |
| 26 | Coventry | 5:00 PM |
| 27 | Crawley | 4:00 PM |
| 28 | Croydon | 4:00 PM (Saturday, May 9) |
| 29 | Dudley | 3:30 AM |
| 30 | Ealing | 4:30 AM |
| 31 | Eastleigh | 5:00 AM |
| 32 | East Surrey | 6:00 PM |
| 33 | East Sussex | 6:00 PM |
| 34 | Enfield | 5:00 PM |
| 35 | Epping Forest | 3:00 PM |
| 36 | Essex | 5:00 PM |
| 37 | Exeter | 3:00 AM |
| 38 | Fareham | 4:00 AM |
| 39 | Gateshead | 4:00 PM |
| 40 | Gosport | 4:00 AM |
| 41 | Greenwich | 4:00 PM |
| 42 | Hackney | 5:00 PM |
| 43 | Halton | 1:00 AM |
| 44 | Hammersmith & Fulham | 5:30 AM |
| 45 | Hampshire | 4:00 AM |
| 46 | Haringey | 5:30 PM |
| 47 | Harlow | 1:30 AM |
| 48 | Harrow | 4:30 PM |
| 49 | Hart | 2:00 AM |
| 50 | Hartlepool | 2:00 AM |
| 51 | Hastings | 6:00 PM |
| 52 | Havant | 4:00 AM |
| 53 | Havering | 6:00 AM |
| 54 | Hillingdon | 4:00 PM |
| 55 | Hounslow | 5:30 PM |
| 56 | Hull | 2:00 AM |
| 57 | Huntingdonshire | 2:30 PM |
| 58 | Hyndburn | 2:00 PM |
| 59 | Ipswich | 4:00 PM |
| 60 | Isle of Wight | 3:00 PM |
| 61 | Islington | 3:00 PM |
| 62 | Kensington & Chelsea | 5:00 AM |
| 63 | Kingston-upon-Thames | 6:00 PM |
| 64 | Kirklees | 6:00 PM |
| 65 | Knowsley | 3:00 PM |
| 66 | Lambeth | 6:00 PM |
| 67 | Leeds | 3:00 PM |
| 68 | Lewisham | 4:00 PM (Saturday, May 9) |
| 69 | Lincoln | 2:00 AM |
| 70 | Manchester | 12:30 PM |
| 71 | Merton | 5:00 AM |
| 72 | Milton Keynes | 5:00 PM |
| 73 | Newcastle-under-Lyme | 4:00 AM |
| 74 | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | 4:45 PM |
| 75 | Newham | 6:00 PM |
| 76 | Norfolk | 5:30 PM |
| 77 | North East Lincolnshire | 2:00 AM |
| 78 | North Tyneside | 1:45 PM |
| 79 | Norwich | 2:30 PM |
| 80 | Nuneaton & Bedworth | 3:30 PM |
| 81 | Oldham | 5:00 AM |
| 82 | Oxford | 3:00 AM |
| 83 | Pendle | 2:30 PM |
| 84 | Peterborough | 3:00 AM |
| 85 | Plymouth | 4:00 AM |
| 86 | Portsmouth | 3:00 AM |
| 87 | Preston | 2:30 PM |
| 88 | Reading | 3:00 AM |
| 89 | Redbridge | 5:00 PM |
| 90 | Redditch | 1:45 AM |
| 91 | Richmond-upon-Thames | 5:00 AM |
| 92 | Rochdale | 2:00 PM |
| 93 | Rochford | 2:00 AM |
| 94 | Rugby | 4:00 PM |
| 95 | Rushmoor | 3:00 PM |
| 96 | Salford | 3:00 AM |
| 97 | Sandwell | 5:00 PM |
| 98 | Sefton | 5:30 PM |
| 99 | Sheffield | 2:00 PM |
| 100 | Solihull | 3:00 PM |
| 101 | Southampton | 6:30 AM |
| 102 | South Cambridgeshire | 4:00 PM |
| 103 | Southend-on-Sea | 3:00 AM |
| 104 | South Tyneside | 5:30 PM |
| 105 | Southwark | 6:00 PM |
| 106 | St Albans | 5:00 PM |
| 107 | Stevenage | 5:00 PM |
| 108 | St Helens | 2:30 PM |
| 109 | Stockport | 5:00 AM |
| 110 | Suffolk | 4:00 PM |
| 111 | Sunderland | 4:00 PM |
| 112 | Sutton | 4:30 AM |
| 113 | Swindon | 6:00 PM |
| 114 | Tameside | 3:00 AM |
| 115 | Tamworth | 2:30 AM |
| 116 | Three Rivers | 3:00 PM |
| 117 | Thurrock | 3:00 PM |
| 118 | Tower Hamlets | 6:00 PM (Saturday, May 9) |
| 119 | Trafford | 4:00 PM |
| 120 | Tunbridge Wells | 4:00 PM |
| 121 | Wakefield | 6:00 PM |
| 122 | Walsall | 5:00 PM |
| 123 | Waltham Forest | 3:00 PM |
| 124 | Wandsworth | 4:00 AM |
| 125 | Watford | 5:00 PM |
| 126 | Welwyn Hatfield | 2:00 PM |
| 127 | West Lancashire | 4:00 PM |
| 128 | Westminster | 3:30 AM |
| 129 | West Oxfordshire | 2:30 PM |
| 130 | West Surrey | 6:00 PM |
| 131 | West Sussex | 4:00 PM |
| 132 | Wigan | 2:30 AM |
| 133 | Winchester | 6:00 PM |
| 134 | Wokingham | 5:00 PM |
| 135 | Wolverhampton | 4:00 PM |
| 136 | Worthing | 6:00 PM |
England Local Election Result 2026: Where to Check the Live Result?
Voters and political observers can track live results through:
- Official council websites
- The Electoral Commission website
- Major UK media outlets and live blogs
- Local authority announcements and verified election portals
Many platforms provide ward-wise results, party-wise seat counts, and council control updates in real time.
England Local Elections 2026 Party
Several major political parties contested the elections, including:
- Labour Party
- Conservative Party
- Liberal Democrats
- Reform UK
- Green Party of England and Wales
These elections are seen as a key test of party performance between general elections.
England Local Elections 2026: How Many Seats Are Being Contested in the 2026 Elections
More than 5,000 council seats (around 5,066) are being contested across England in 2026. These include councillors from different types of local authorities, such as boroughs, counties, and districts.
England Local Elections 2026: Which Councils Are Voting in 2026?
The 2026 local elections in England are being held across 136 local authorities, covering a wide range of council types. These elections span urban, rural, and metropolitan areas, making them one of the largest local electoral exercises in recent years.
Elections are being held across over 130 councils in England, including:
- 32 London borough councils
- Metropolitan boroughs
- County councils
- District and unitary authorities
In total, elections cover thousands of wards across the country, making it one of the largest local electoral exercises.
England Local Elections vs General Elections: What’s the Difference?
Elections in England operate at different levels, and understanding the difference between local and general elections helps explain how governance works.
Local elections focus on choosing councillors who manage everyday civic services in towns and cities, while general elections decide who runs the country through the UK Parliament. In simple terms, local elections affect daily life at the community level, whereas general elections shape national policy and leadership.
Key Differences:
- Who you vote for: Councillors (local) vs MPs (national)
- Level of power: Local councils vs national government
- Main issues: Roads, housing, waste vs economy, defence, foreign policy
- Outcome: Council control vs formation of central government
- Impact: Community services vs country-wide decisions
The England Local Elections 2026 are not just about councillor seats—they reflect broader political trends and public sentiment. With thousands of candidates, multiple parties, and widespread participation, these results will play a crucial role in shaping both local governance and national political narratives in the coming years.
