The 2026 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 60 members of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council in Greater Manchester will be elected.
Changes 2024âÂÂ2026:
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974. The Conservatives briefly held control until Labour won their first majority in 1976. Labour formed a majority administration until 2003 when the council fell into no overall control. This lasted until 2011.
The 2019 election saw Labour reduced to minority status with 24 seats. The Conservatives formed a minority administration with support from UKIP, Farnworth and Kearsley First, and Horwich and Blackrod First. The Conservatives became the largest party on the council in 2021, and retained minority control until 2023 when Labour once again became the largest party. Labour formed a minority administration with the support of Farnworth and Kearsley First and Horwich and Blackrod First which continues to govern.
The 2023 election was held under a new set of boundaries, meaning that this election is for the councillors who placed second in each of the three-member wards. Labour will be defending 7 seats, the Conservatives will be defending 7, the Liberal Democrats will be defending 2, Horwich and Blackrod First will be defending 2, and Farnworth and Kearsley First will be defending 2 (including a seat in Kearsley gained in a 2023 by-election).