The 2026 West Oxfordshire District Council election was held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day, to elect 16 of 49 members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control, being run by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Green Party, led by Liberal Democrat councillor Andy Graham. The election saw the council remain under no overall control. The same three parties agreed to continue running the council in coalition after the election.
Due to ongoing local government reorganisation, this will be the final election to West Oxfordshire District Council before it is abolished and replaced by a successor unitary authority. Elections to the successor authority are due to take place in 2027.
Summary
Background In 2024, the council stayed under no overall control.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 21 21 13 13 11 10 3 3 0 1
Changes 2024–2026: September 2024: Rizvana Poole (Labour) resigns – by-election held November 2024 November 2024: Mike Baggaley (Liberal Democrats) gains by-election from Labour March 2025: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrats) resigns – by-election held May 2025 May 2025: Sandra Cosier (Liberal Democrats) wins by-election July 2025: Natalie King (Liberal Democrats) suspended from party February 2026: Natalie King (Independent) joins Reform
Election result
The council remained under no overall control after the election and the same coalition continued to form the council's administration. Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Ascott & Shipton David Cooper Conservative No Bampton & Clanfield Alaric Smith Liberal Democrats Yes Brize Norton & Shilton Rosie Pearson Green Yes Burford Hugo Ashton Liberal Democrats No Carterton North East Martin McBride Conservative No Carterton North West Natalie King Reform Yes Carterton South Nick Leverton Conservative No Chipping Norton Mike Baggaley Liberal Democrats No Ducklington Adrian Walsh Conservative No Eynsham & Cassington Carl Rylett Liberal Democrats Yes Freeland & Hanborough Lidia Arciszewska Liberal Democrats Yes Standlake, Aston &Stanton Harcourt Sandra Cosier Liberal Democrats Yes The Bartons David Jackson Liberal Democrats Yes Witney East Ruth Smith Labour Co-op Yes Witney South Michael Brooker Labour Co-op Yes Woodstock & Bladon Julian Cooper Liberal Democrats No
Ward results
Ascott & Shipton
Bampton & Clanfield
Brize Norton & Shilton
Burford
Carterton North East
Carterton North West
Carterton South
Chipping Norton
Ducklington
Eynsham & Cassington
Freeland & Hanborough
Standlake, Aston & Stanton Harcourt
The Bartons
Witney East
Witney South
Woodstock & Bladon
Notes
References