The 2026 Southend-on-Sea City Council election took place on 7 May 2026 to elect one third of the members of Southend-on-Sea City Council in Essex, England. The election took place on the same day as other local elections across the United Kingdom.

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a coalition of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and some of the independent councillors, led by Labour councillor Daniel Cowan. Reform UK won the largest number of seats contested at this election, but the council remained under no overall control and Labour remained the largest party. The Labour, Liberal Democrats and independents coalition continued to run the council after the election, with Daniel Cowan remaining in post as leader of the council.

Background Elections to Southend-on-Sea City Council are held by thirds. The 2026 election will therefore contest one third of the council’s seats.

The election is taking place during a period of proposed local government reorganisation in Essex, which may replace existing council structures with a smaller number of unitary authorities. As part of this process, some councils were invited by central government to request the postponement of their scheduled 2026 elections.

Southend-on-Sea City Council confirmed that its elections would proceed as scheduled. Under UK law, any decision to postpone local elections is made by central government.

Summary

Election result

Incumbents

Ward IncumbentcouncillorParty Re-standing Belfairs Alan Dear Yes Blenheim Park Laurie Burton Yes Chalkwell Nigel Folkard No Eastwood Park Robert McMullan Yes Kursaal Matt Dent Yes Leigh Carole Mulroney Yes Milton Maxine Sadza Yes Prittlewell Kevin Buck Yes Shoeburyness Nick Ward Yes Southchurch Daniel Nelson No St Laurence Lydia Hyde Yes St Luke's Kathy Murphy No Thorpe Martin Terry Yes Victoria Margaret Borton Yes West Leigh Fay Evans No West Shoebury John Harland Yes Westborough Kevin Robinson Yes

Results by ward

Full results are available from Southend-on-Sea City Council.

Belfairs

Blenheim Park

Chalkwell

Eastwood Park

Kursaal

Leigh

Milton

Prittlewell

Shoeburyness

Southchurch

St Laurence

St Luke's

Thorpe

Victoria

West Leigh

West Shoebury

Westborough

Notes

References