Which local elections are being cancelled in May 2026?

Update 18/02/26:

The government has U-turned on plans to cancel local elections for over 4 million people.

This is a victory for democracy and for the millions who faced losing their vote this May.

But Ministers shouldn’t have the power in the first place to postpone or cancel elections without having a vote in parliament. The law must be changed.

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The Government will be cancelling local elections in 29 areas. Over 4 million people will lose their vote.

Governments shouldn’t be able to cancel elections like this.

To many, it looks like they are trying to avoid potentially embarrassing election defeats.

The councils which will have their elections cancelled in May 2026 are -

Adur District Council

Basildon Borough Council

Blackburn with Darwen Council

Burnley Borough Council

Cannock Chase District Council

Cheltenham Borough Council

Chorley Borough Council

City of Lincoln Council

Crawley Borough Council

East Sussex County Council

Exeter City Council

Harlow District Council

Hastings Borough Council

Hyndburn Borough Council

Ipswich Borough Council

Norfolk County Council

Norwich City Council

Peterborough City Council

Preston City Council

Redditch Borough Council

Rugby Borough Council

Stevenage Borough Council

Suffolk County Council

Tamworth Borough Council

Thurrock Council

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

West Lancashire Borough Council

West Sussex County Council

Worthing Borough Council

People deserve their say on how things are run in their local community. 

The government claims elections are inconvenient while councils are being reorganised. 

The Electoral Commission says this isn’t an “exceptional circumstance” that justifies postponing a vote. 

We agree. Elections are always inconvenient, especially if you’re at risk of losing power!

Parliament must debate whether the government should have the power to cancel elections. Please will you sign our petition?