The 2026 Watford Borough Council election was held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom held on the same day, to elect 12 of 36 members of Watford Borough Council. The election was held alongside the 2026 Watford mayoral election.
Due to ongoing local government reorganisation, this was the final election to Watford Borough Council before it is abolished and replaced by a successor unitary authority. Elections to the successor authority are due to take place in 2027. In the election, the Liberal Democrats won all 12 seats, including two gains from the Labour Party, and maintained control of the council.
Background In the 2024 local elections, the Liberal Democrats won 11 of the 12 seats up for election, including three seats gained from the Labour Party, who held their leader's seat of Holywell. With their election win, the Liberal Democrats maintained their 21-year control of the council. In the 2024 general election, the Labour Party candidate Matt Turmaine gained the Watford constituency from the Conservative Party incumbent Dean Russell. In January 2026, the council was given the option to cancel the 2026 elections in preparation for local government reorganisation, however, the council decided to proceed with the elections to "allow residents the right to exercise their democratic rights".
Three by-elections were held between the 2024 and 2026 elections: +By-electionsWardDateIncumbentWinnerCausePartyCouncillorPartyCandidateHolywell1 May 2025Matt TurmaineAsma SulemanElected as the Member of Parliament for WatfordOxhey1 May 2025Chris NewsteadIain SharpeResigned due to moving out of areaTudor4 December 2025Charlott SaundersCallum RobertsonResigned due to personal reasons
Summary
Election result
Results by ward Callowland
Central
Holywell
Leggatts
Meriden
Nascot
Oxhey
Park
Stanborough
Tudor
Vicarage
Woodside
Notes
References