The 2026 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 7 May 2026 to elect members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in West Midlands, England, coinciding with other local elections.
Prior to the election the council was under Conservative majority control. The council went under no overall control at the election. The Conservatives remained the largest party, but fell two seats short of a majority. They subsequently formed a minority administration to run the council. The incumbent Conservative leader of the council, Karen Grinsell, was reappointed to the role at the subsequent annual council meeting on 26 May 2026.
Background
In 2024, Conservatives retained control of the council. During the term, four Conservative councillors left the party to formed an Independent group, of which three defected to Reform UK later on, In February, another Conservative councillor from the Shirley West ward defected to Reform UK.
In 2026, all 51 seats in the council across seventeen wards will be up for election due to ward boundary changes. Several senior Conservative councillors, including former leader of the council Ian Courts, did not stand for re-election in 2026. None of the three independent councillors prior to the election stood for re-election.
Election result
Ward results
Balsall & Berkswell
Blythe
Castle Bromwich
Chelmsley Wood
Dorridge & Hockley Heath
Elmdon
Fordbridge
Kingshurst & Smith's Wood
Knowle
Lyndon
Meriden & Arden
Olton
Shirley East & Sharmans Cross
Shirley South
Shirley West
Silhill
St Alphege with Monkspath & Hillfield
Opinion Polls Date(s)conductedProviderAreaLabConLDGrnRefOthers March-April 2026 YouGovWest Midlands10%26%16%17%31%0% March-April 2026 Telegraph/JL PartnersEngland12.3%34.5%14.9%7.9%27.4%3.1%5 May 20222022 local elections–18.7%50.5%14.2%16.1%–0.3%
References