The 2026 Newcastle City Council election was held on 7 May 2026 to elect all 78 members of Newcastle City Council. It was held alongside other local elections across Great Britain. This was the first election held under new ward boundaries, with each of the council's 26 wards electing three councillors.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control. Labour was the largest party, and ran the council as a minority administration. At this election, the council remained under no overall control. Labour fell to just two seats, and the incumbent Labour leader of the council, Karen Kilgour, lost her seat. The Liberal Democrats emerged as the largest party with 25 seats, closely followed by the Green Party and Reform UK which won 24 seats each.
After the election, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party agreed a deal which allowed for the formation of a Liberal Democrat minority administration with informal support from the Greens. The Liberal Democrat group leader, Colin Ferguson, was appointed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 27 May 2026.
Background At the previous council election in 2024, Labour had won a majority of the seats. The council subsequently went under no overall control in November 2024 when a number of Labour councillors left the party. Labour remained the largest party and continued to run the council as a minority administration. The Liberal Democrats remained the largest opposition.
In August 2025, Jamie Driscoll, former Mayor of the North of Tyne and former Newcastle City Council member, announced he was standing in the election in Monument ward. He said that a progressive alliance of Majority, the Green Party, and independents could win control of Newcastle City Council. In December 2025, Driscoll joined the Green Party.
Previous council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 45 34 23 22 2 4 3 3 1 1 4 12 Vacant 0 Vacant 2
Election result
Aftermath The election left the council under no overall control. On 26 May, Liberal Democrat group leader Colin Ferguson and Green group leader Nick Hartley signed a memorandum of understanding under which the two groups agreed to work together, while stopping short of a formal coalition. The following day, the council appointed Ferguson as leader of a Liberal Democrat minority administration.
Ward results
Arthur's Hill
Benwell, Scotswood & Denton Burn
Blakelaw & Cowgate
Byker
Castle
Chapel
Dene & South Gosforth
Denton & Westerhope
Elswick
Fawdon & West Gosforth
Gosforth
Heaton
Jesmond
Kenton
Kingston Park & Dinnington
Lemington
Manor Park
Monument
Newbiggin Hall & Callerton
Ouseburn
Parklands & North Gosforth
Throckley, Walbottle & Newburn
Walker
Walkergate
West Fenham
Wingrove
Changes 2026–2027 May 2026: Mohammed Suleman, who had been elected in Arthur's Hill with the Green Party description on the ballot paper, took his seat as an independent after the party withdrew its endorsement before polling day. July 2026: The resignation of Amy Hunter reduced both Reform UK and the Green Party to 23 sitting councillors each and created a vacancy in Throckley, Walbottle & Newburn.
Throckley, Walbottle & Newburn by-election
The Throckley, Walbottle & Newburn by-election was triggered by Amy Hunter's resignation, which she attributed to changes to her health, personal circumstances and work commitments.
Notes
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