The 2026 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election took place on 7 May 2026 to elect members of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in Lancashire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections.
Prior to the election, the council was under Labour majority control. At the election, the council went under no overall control. Labour remained the largest party, but fell six seats short of a majority. They managed to form a minority administration, and the incumbent Labour leader of the council, Phil Riley, was reappointed to the role at the subsequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2026.
Summary
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Audley & Queen's Park Ehsan Raja Yes Bastwell & Daisyfield Parwaiz Akhtar Yes Billinge & Beardwood Tasleem Fazal Yes Blackburn Central Zamir Khan Yes Blackburn South & Lower Darwen Jacqueline Slater Yes Blackburn South East Jim Shorrock Yes Darwen East Martin McCaughran Yes Darwen South Kevin Connor Yes Darwen West David Smith Yes Ewood Elaine Whittingham Yes Little Harwood & Whitebirk Sonia Khan No Livesey with Pleasington Derek Hardman Yes Mill Hill & Moorgate Jim Smith No Roe Lee Saj Ali Yes Shear Brow & Corporation Park Suleman Khonat Yes Wensley Fold Sabahat Imtiaz No West Pennine Julie Slater Yes
Candidates
Audley & Queen's Park
Bastwell & Daisyfield
Billinge & Beardwood
Blackburn Central
Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Blackburn South East
Darwen East
Darwen South
Darwen West
Ewood
Little Harwood & Whitebirk
Livesey with Pleasington
Mill Hill & Moorgate
Roe Lee
Shear Brow & Corporation Park
Wensley Fold
West Pennine
References