The 2026 Southampton City Council election was held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day, to elect 17 of 51 members of Southampton City Council.
Prior to the election, the council was under Labour majority control. The council went under no overall control at this election. Labour remained the largest party but lost a number of seats, including that of the leader of the council, Alex Winning. They were left with 24 seats, two short of a majority. After the election, Labour chose Sarah Bogle to be their new group leader. She was formally appointed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 20 May 2026, leading a Labour minority administration.
Due to ongoing local government reorganisation, this will be the final election to Southampton City Council before it is abolished and replaced by a successor unitary authority. Elections to the successor authority are due to take place in 2027.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 36 31 10 9 4 7 1 2 0 1 0 1 Changes 2024–2026: August 2024: Satvir Kaur (Labour) resigns – by-election held October 2024 October 2024: George Percival (Liberal Democrats) gains by-election from Labour March 2025: Matt Renyard (Labour) joins Greens June 2025: Matthew Bunday (Labour) joins Liberal Democrats August 2025: Rebecca McCreanor (Labour) joins Liberal Democrats January 2026: George Percival (Liberal Democrats) resigns – by-election held February 2026 February 2026: Sarah Powell-Vaughan (Conservatives) joins Reform Chris Shank (Liberal Democrats) wins by-election Lee Whitbread (Labour) suspended from party
Summary
Background In 2024, Labour retained control of the council.
Election result
Incumbents
Ward IncumbentcouncillorParty Re-standing Banister & Polygon Steve Leggett Labour Yes Bargate John Noon Labour Yes Bassett Sam Chapman Liberal Democrats Yes Bevois Mike Denness Labour No Bitterne Park Phil Webb Labour Yes Coxford Rebecca McCreanor Liberal Democrats No Freemantle Pam Kenny Labour Yes Harefield Valerie Laurent Conservative No Millbrook Jeremy Moulton Conservative Yes Peartree Alex Houghton Conservative Yes Portswood Marie Finn Labour Yes Redbridge Lee Whitbread Labour No Shirley Alexander Winning Labour Yes Sholing Sarah Powell-Vaughan Reform Yes Swaythling Matthew Bunday Liberal Democrats No Thornhill Andy Frampton Labour Yes Woolston Sue Blatchford Labour No
Ward results
Banister & Polygon
Bargate
Bassett
Bevois
Bitterne Park
Coxford
Freemantle
Harefield
Millbrook
Peartree
Portswood
Redbridge
Shirley
Sholing
Swaythling
Thornhill
Woolston
Notes
References