The 2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. All 90 members of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in West Yorkshire will be elected following boundary changes.
Bradford was created in 1974 as a metropolitan borough. The Conservatives formed a majority administration from its creation until 1978, when the council fell into no overall control. Labour won their first majority in 1980, and have been the only party to form majority administrations since. Aside from a brief period between 2004 and 2006, Labour have been the largest party on the council for the entirety of the 21st century and have continuously held a majority of seats since 2014.
2024 saw Labour fall to its lowest number of councillors in eight years following large gains by independents, which some attributed to Labour's stance on the Gaza war. Labour won 10 seats (down 4), independents won 9 seats (up 4), the Conservatives won 4 seats (down 2), the Green Party won 4 seats (up 2) and the Liberal Democrats won 3 seats (steady). Following the election, the Conservatives formed a group with independent councillor Luke Majkowski.
This election will take place on a new set of ward boundaries, meaning all 90 seats will be up for election.
Changes 2024âÂÂ2026: