The 2026 Cheltenham 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 20 of 40 members of Cheltenham Borough Council in Gloucestershire, England.
The Liberal Democrats retained their majority on the council at this election.
Summary
Background In 2024, the Liberal Democrats retained majority control of the council. In January 2026, the council asked for the election to be postponed pending local government reorganisation. This was against the wishes of the national Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey. However it was rescheduled on 16 February 2026.
Retiring councillors Ward Departing CouncillorParty Charlton Kings Hannah Healy Lansdown Ben Orme Park Dilys Barrell Pittville Juan Clamp St Peter's David Willingham Swindon Village Frank Allen
Election result The Liberal Democrats retained control of Cheltenham Borough Council, winning 17 of the 20 seats contested. The Green Party won two seats, while Reform UK won one seat. The election had a turnout of 44%.
Reform UK won its first seat on Cheltenham Borough Council, with Callum James Eldridge winning Hesters Way by 16 votes from Liberal Democrat candidate Benjamin Botchway.
Ward results Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).
All Saints
Battledown
Benhall, the Reddings and Fiddler's Green
Charlton Kings
Charlton Park
College
Hesters Way
The result gave Reform UK its first seat on Cheltenham Borough Council, defeating the Liberal Democrats by 16 votes.
Lansdown
Leckhampton
Oakley
Park
Pittville
Prestbury
Springbank
St Mark's
St Paul's
Cathal Lynch was a sitting councillor for Hesters Way ward
St Peter's
Swindon Village
Up Hatherley
Warden Hill
Notes
References