The 2026 local elections in England, Scotland, and Wales take place on 7 May, with voting covering multiple local government bodies. In England, the elections include five different types of council elections running on the same date. The coverage anticipates that more than 5,000 councillors will be elected across 136 councils. This figure is described as separate from the election of directly elected mayors, with six mayoral contests scheduled to take place concurrently.
The information provided outlines how the overall timetable is structured in England, distinguishing between council elections and mayoral elections. While details for Scotland and Wales are referenced as part of the overall “guide,” the provided source text focuses specifically on the English elections’ scale and classification. The reporting also frames the May 7 elections as a nationwide local election day for participating councils and mayoral offices, with council contests organized into multiple categories rather than a single election type.
