The 2026 Sheffield City Council election took place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 84 members of Sheffield City Council in South Yorkshire were elected.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control, being run by a coalition of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, led by Labour councillor Tom Hunt. At this election, the council remained under no overall control. Labour remained the largest party, but it lost seats, notably to the Greens and Reform UK. The incumbent leader, Tom Hunt, lost his seat. After the election, the Liberal Democrats decided to withdraw from the ruling coalition, leaving it as a Labour and Green coalition. Labour chose Fran Belbin as its new group leader, and she was formally appointed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2026.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 36 34 27 27 14 14 0 1 7 6 Vacant N/A Vacant 2 Changes 2024–2026: September 2024: Paul Wood (Independent, elected as Labour) dies – by-election held November 2024 November 2024: Willis Marshall (Liberal Democrats) nominally gains by-election from Labour May 2025: Julie Grocutt (Independent, elected as Labour) resigns – by-election held June 2025 Willis Marshall (Liberal Democrats) suspended from party June 2025: John Booker (Reform) nominally gains by-election from Labour February 2026: Willis Marshall (Independent) regains whip March 2026: Ann Woolhouse (Liberal Democrats) resigns – seat left vacant until 2026 election Nikki Belfield (Labour) resigns – seat left vacant until 2026 election April 2026: Gareth Slater (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent
Summary
Background Sheffield City Council was created in 1974 as a metropolitan borough. Labour saw early success, controlling the council from its creation until 1999 when the Liberal Democrats took control. This lasted until 2002, when the council fell into no overall control. Labour regained the council in 2004, but the Liberal Democrats formed their second majority administration in 2008.
Labour have been the largest party on the council since 2011. However, following a loss of eight seats in 2021, the party have been unable to form a majority administration. Labour initially formed a coalition with the Green Party; from 2022 onwards, though, both the Greens and the Liberal Democrats have joined with Labour to form a coalition. In 2023, eight ex-Labour councillors formed an independent group, known as the Sheffield Community Councillors Group, thus forming the principal opposition on the council. Four councillors remain a part of this group.
The seats up for election this year were last contested in 2022. In that election, Labour won 15 seats (down 1), the Liberal Democrats won 9 seats (steady), and the Greens won 4 seats (up 1).
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Beauchief & Greenhill Simon Clement-Jones Liberal Democrats Yes Beighton Kurtis Crossthorn Liberal Democrats Yes Birley Karen McGowan Labour Yes Broomhill & Sharrow Vale Maleiki Haybe Green Yes Burngreave Mark Jones Labour No City Martin Phipps Green No Crookes & Crosspool Minesh Parekh Labour Co-op Yes Darnall Zahira Naz Labour Yes Dore & Totley Martin Smith Liberal Democrats Yes East Ecclesfield Craig Gamble-Pugh Labour Co-op Yes Ecclesall Shaffaq Mohammed Liberal Democrats No Firth Park Fran Belbin Labour Co-op Yes Fulwood Cliff Woodcraft Liberal Democrats Yes Gleadless Valley Marieanne Elliot Green Yes Graves Park Steve Ayris Liberal Democrats Yes Hillsborough Henry Nottage Green No Manor Castle Terry Fox Independent No Mosborough Gail Smith Liberal Democrats Yes Nether Edge & Sharrow Nighat Basharat Labour Yes Park & Arbourthorne Nabeela Mowlana Labour Co-op Yes Richmond Mike Drabble Labour No Shiregreen & Brightside Garry Weatherall Independent Yes Southey Jayne Dunn Labour Yes Stannington William Sapwell Liberal Democrats Yes Stocksbridge & Upper Don Janet Ridler Labour Yes Walkley Tom Hunt Labour Yes West Ecclesfield Mike Levery Liberal Democrats Yes Woodhouse Willis Marshall Liberal Democrats Yes
Ward results
Beauchief & Greenhill
Beighton By-election due to the resignation of conucillor Ann Woolhouse.
Birley
Broomhill & Sharrow Vale
Burngreave
City
Crookes & Crosspool
Darnall
Dore & Totley
East Ecclesfield
Ecclesall
Firth Park By-election due to the resignation of councillor Nikki Belfield.
Fulwood
Gleadless Valley
Graves Park
Hillsborough
Manor Castle
Mosborough
Nether Edge & Sharrow
Park & Arbourthorne
Richmond
Shiregreen & Brightside
Southey
Stannington
Stocksbridge & Upper Don
Walkley
West Ecclesfield
Woodhouse
Post-election changes
By-elections
Southey
Walkley
Notes
References