Council elections 2027

On Thursday 6 May 2027, every seat on all 22 councils in Wales is up for election. The councillors elected will serve for five years and decide on schools, social care, bins, roads, planning and council tax.

191 days to polling day.

Your ward

Enter your postcode to find your ward and your councillors now, with their attendance, declarations and the questions they've asked.

What's happening

Polling day is Thursday 6 May 2027. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.
Every seat on all 22 councils is elected at once: about 1,240 councillors in all, after new wards in the Vale of Glamorgan and Caerphilly.
Councillors are elected for five years, until 2032.
You can vote from 16. British, Irish, EU and Commonwealth citizens can vote, and so can citizens of any other country who live in Wales legally.
You don't need photo ID to vote in council elections in Wales.
Each ward elects one or more councillors. You get as many votes as there are seats in your ward, and the candidates with the most votes win.
No council will use the single transferable vote. Gwynedd, Powys and Ceredigion voted on it and none reached the two-thirds majority needed.
Three councils have new wards: the Vale of Glamorgan (59 councillors), Caerphilly (68) and Carmarthenshire.

Make sure you can vote

The Welsh Government is bringing in automatic registration for council elections, but it is not confirmed that it is in place yet. The safest thing is to check or register online. It takes five minutes. You need to register again if you've moved.

The state of play

Who holds the seats now, from each council's own list of councillors, compared with the 2022 election. Seats change between elections through by-elections and councillors changing party.

These totals cover the 21 of 22 councils whose full list of councillors we hold, and compare them with the 2022 result in the same councils.

Now, 1,196 seats

Labour 453
Plaid Cymru 167
Conservative 94
Liberal Democrat 68
Reform UK 22
Green 13
Independents and local groups 379

2022 election, 1,199 seats

Labour 525
Plaid Cymru 179
Conservative 111
Liberal Democrat 68
Green 8
Independents and local groups 308

Who runs each council

Who leads each council now. Most councils are run by a Cabinet of councillors chosen by the leader. Where no party has a majority, parties or groups agree to run it together.

Council	Who runs it	Leader	Seats now
Anglesey	Plaid Cymru majorityPlaid Cymru holds 18 of 35 seats, exactly enough for a majority.	Gary PritchardPlaid Cymru	We don't hold this council's full list of councillors yet. Seats won in 2022: 2022 election Labour 3 Plaid Cymru 21 Liberal Democrat 1 Independents and local groups 10
Blaenau Gwent	Labour majority	Stephen ThomasLabour	Blaenau Gwent Labour 19 Green 1 Independents and local groups 13
Bridgend	Labour, without a majorityLabour holds 25 of 51 seats, one short of a majority. Some sources still describe a Labour majority.	John SpanswickLabour	Bridgend Labour 25 Plaid Cymru 1 Conservative 1 Independents and local groups 24
Caerphilly	Labour majority	Jamie PritchardLabour	Caerphilly Labour 41 Plaid Cymru 19 Green 1 Independents and local groups 7
Cardiff	Labour majority	Chris WeaverLabour	Cardiff Labour 50 Conservative 9 Liberal Democrat 10 Reform UK 1 Green 1 Independents and local groups 8
Carmarthenshire	Plaid Cymru-led; sources differSources differ. Open Council Data counts Plaid Cymru on 39 of 75 seats, a bare majority, after a by-election in October 2026. Others describe a Plaid Cymru and Independent coalition.	Linda EvansPlaid Cymru	Carmarthenshire Labour 14 Plaid Cymru 39 Reform UK 1 Green 1 Independents and local groups 20
Ceredigion	Plaid Cymru majority	Bryan DaviesPlaid Cymru	Ceredigion Plaid Cymru 21 Liberal Democrat 7 Independents and local groups 10
Conwy	No overall control; led by Independents	Julie FallonIndependent	Conwy Labour 6 Conservative 7 Liberal Democrat 4 Reform UK 2 Independents and local groups 35
Denbighshire	No overall control; led by IndependentsThe Labour leader stood down at the end of August 2026. The council's website names Hugh Evans as leader. Who is in the new administration isn't confirmed.	Hugh EvansIndependent	Denbighshire Labour 13 Plaid Cymru 7 Conservative 8 Green 2 Independents and local groups 18
Flintshire	No overall control; led by Labour	Dave HughesLabour	Flintshire Labour 26 Conservative 1 Liberal Democrat 4 Reform UK 9 Independents and local groups 26
Gwynedd	Plaid Cymru majority	Nia Wyn JeffreysPlaid Cymru	Gwynedd Plaid Cymru 44 Independents and local groups 25
Merthyr Tydfil	Labour, without a majority	Brent CarterLabour	Merthyr Tydfil Labour 15 Independents and local groups 15
Monmouthshire	No overall control; led by Labour	Mary Ann BrocklesbyLabour	Monmouthshire Labour 18 Plaid Cymru 2 Conservative 19 Green 1 Independents and local groups 6
Neath Port Talbot	No overall control; led by Independents	Scott JonesIndependent	Neath Port Talbot Labour 22 Plaid Cymru 11 Liberal Democrat 3 Green 1 Independents and local groups 23
Newport	Labour majority	Dimitri BatrouniLabour	Newport Labour 33 Conservative 6 Liberal Democrat 1 Green 2 Independents and local groups 9
Pembrokeshire	No overall control; led by Independents	Tessa HodgsonIndependent	Pembrokeshire Labour 9 Plaid Cymru 3 Conservative 12 Liberal Democrat 2 Reform UK 1 Independents and local groups 33
Powys	No overall control; led by Liberal Democrat	Jake BerrimanLiberal Democrat	Powys Labour 9 Plaid Cymru 4 Conservative 12 Liberal Democrat 23 Reform UK 3 Green 1 Independents and local groups 16
Rhondda Cynon Taf	Labour majority	Ann CrimmingsLabour	Rhondda Cynon Taf Labour 57 Plaid Cymru 8 Conservative 2 Green 1 Independents and local groups 7
Swansea	Labour majority	Rob StewartLabour	Swansea Labour 44 Conservative 4 Liberal Democrat 14 Reform UK 1 Green 1 Independents and local groups 11
Torfaen	Labour majority	Anthony HuntLabour	Torfaen Labour 28 Reform UK 4 Independents and local groups 8
Vale of Glamorgan	No overall control; led by Labour	Lis BurnettLabour	Vale of Glamorgan Labour 24 Plaid Cymru 8 Conservative 13 Independents and local groups 9
Wrexham	No overall control; led by Independents	Mark PritchardIndependent	Wrexham Independents and local groups 56

Polls

No opinion poll on how people will vote in the council elections has been published. Council elections are local: many seats go to independents and local groups, and turnout is usually lower than for the Senedd.

The nearest guide is how people say they would vote for the Senedd. These polls ask about the Senedd, not councils.

Senedd election, 7 May 2026

Turnout 51.6%. Plaid Cymru formed a minority Welsh Government.

Party	Share	Seats
Plaid Cymru	35.4%	43
Reform UK	29.3%	34
Labour	11.1%	9
Conservative	10.7%	7
Green	6.7%	2
Liberal Democrat	4.5%	1
Independents and local groups	2.3%	0

Source

How people say they would vote for the Senedd

Pollster	Plaid Cymru	Reform UK	Labour	Conservative	Green	Liberal Democrat
More in CommonFieldwork ended 30 Sept 2026	32%	27%	18%	12%	6%	5%
YouGovPublished 15 Sept 2026	32%	27%	13%	11%	7%	5%

By-elections since 2022

Open Council Data lists 94 council by-elections in Wales since May 2022, held when a councillor dies or stands down. In 47 of them, the seat went to a different party or group.

Date	Council	Ward	Held before by	Won by	Result
23 Oct 2026	Carmarthenshire	Saron	Labour	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
16 Oct 2026	Flintshire	Higher Kinnerton	Independent or other	Flintshire People's Voice	Changed hands
4 Sept 2026	Rhondda Cynon Taf	Llantwit Fardre	Conservative	Conservative	Same party or group
7 Aug 2026	Caerphilly	Hengoed	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
31 Jul 2026	Anglesey	Bro'r Llynnoedd	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
11 Jul 2026	Neath Port Talbot	Trebanos	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
11 Jul 2026	Pembrokeshire	Pembroke Dock: Market	Independent or other	Conservative	Changed hands
10 Jul 2026	Cardiff	Splott	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
10 Jul 2026	Flintshire	Argoed and New Brighton	Liberal Democrat	Liberal Democrat	Same party or group
10 Jul 2026	Flintshire	Connah's Quay Central	Independent or other	Reform UK	Changed hands
10 Jul 2026	Gwynedd	Llanrug	Plaid Cymru	Independent or other	Changed hands
10 Jul 2026	Vale of Glamorgan	Baruc	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group

Show all 94

Date	Council	Ward	Held before by	Won by	Result
4 Jul 2026	Powys	Glantwymyn	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
4 Jul 2026	Powys	Llanyre with Nantmel	Reform UK	Reform UK	Same party or group
4 Jul 2026	Powys	Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew	Reform UK	Liberal Democrat	Changed hands
3 Jul 2026	Torfaen	Llantarnam	Reform UK	Reform UK	Same party or group
26 Jun 2026	Carmarthenshire	Llangennech	Reform UK	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
26 Jun 2026	Denbighshire	Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch	Plaid Cymru	Independent or other	Changed hands
26 Jun 2026	Denbighshire	Rhyl South	Independent or other	Reform UK	Changed hands
26 Jun 2026	Merthyr Tydfil	Dowlais and Pant	Reform UK	Labour	Changed hands
26 Jun 2026	Rhondda Cynon Taf	Treorchy	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
19 Jun 2026	Conwy	Gogarth Mostyn	Reform UK	Reform UK	Same party or group
19 Jun 2026	Conwy	Tudno	Reform UK	Reform UK	Same party or group
19 Jun 2026	Swansea	Morriston	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
19 Jun 2026	Swansea	Mumbles	Reform UK	Conservative	Changed hands
19 Jun 2026	Wrexham	Acton and Maesydre	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
19 Jun 2026	Wrexham	Grosvenor	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
19 Jun 2026	Wrexham	Queensway	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
29 May 2026	Swansea	Fairwood	Conservative	Liberal Democrat	Changed hands
10 May 2026	Newport	Rogerstone North	Conservative	Conservative	Same party or group
10 May 2026	Powys	Llandrindod South	Liberal Democrat	Liberal Democrat	Same party or group
18 Mar 2026	Pembrokeshire	Milford: Hakin	Independent or other	Reform UK	Changed hands
20 Feb 2026	Caerphilly	Van	Labour	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
11 Feb 2026	Pembrokeshire	Fishguard: North East	Independent or other	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
6 Feb 2026	Anglesey	Ynys Gybi	Plaid Cymru	Reform UK	Changed hands
23 Jan 2026	Flintshire	Leeswood	Labour	Reform UK	Changed hands
13 Dec 2025	Caerphilly	Penyrheol	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
15 Nov 2025	Gwynedd	Bethel a'r Felinheli	Plaid Cymru	People's Administration	Changed hands
19 Sept 2025	Cardiff	Trowbridge	Labour	Reform UK	Changed hands
12 Sept 2025	Vale of Glamorgan	Illtyd	Labour	Reform UK	Changed hands
22 Aug 2025	Gwynedd	Abermaw	Independent or other	Independent or other	Same party or group
15 Aug 2025	Cardiff	Grangetown	Labour	Green	Changed hands
8 Aug 2025	Carmarthenshire	Llangennech	Labour	Reform UK	Changed hands
26 Jul 2025	Cardiff	Llanrumney	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
18 Jul 2025	Denbighshire	Prestatyn Central	Conservative	Conservative	Same party or group
18 Jul 2025	Neath Port Talbot	Baglan	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
18 Jul 2025	Rhondda Cynon Taf	Pontypridd Town	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
4 Jul 2025	Powys	Llanidloes	Liberal Democrat	Liberal Democrat	Same party or group
31 May 2025	Carmarthenshire	Lliedi	Independent or other	Reform UK	Changed hands
1 May 2025	Bridgend	Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr	Labour	Reform UK	Changed hands
11 Apr 2025	Gwynedd	Teigl	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
4 Apr 2025	Neath Port Talbot	Cwmllynfell and Ystalyfera	Labour	Liberal Democrat	Changed hands
29 Mar 2025	Swansea	Penllergaer	Independents @ Swansea	Independent or other	Changed hands
7 Mar 2025	Carmarthenshire	Llanddarog	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
14 Feb 2025	Pembrokeshire	Haverfordwest: Prendergast	Independent or other	Independent or other	Same party or group
14 Feb 2025	Torfaen	Trevethin and Penygarn	Labour	Reform UK	Changed hands
6 Dec 2024	Cardiff	Splott	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
28 Oct 2024	Denbighshire	Prestatyn North	Labour	Conservative	Changed hands
28 Oct 2024	Anglesey	Talybolion	Plaid Cymru	Independent or other	Changed hands
28 Oct 2024	Monmouthshire	Town	Labour	Conservative	Changed hands
19 Oct 2024	Ceredigion	Tirymynach	Liberal Democrat	Liberal Democrat	Same party or group
19 Oct 2024	Gwynedd	Llanberis	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
18 Oct 2024	Pembrokeshire	The Havens	Independent or other	Conservative	Changed hands
10 Oct 2024	Powys	Machynlleth	Independent or other	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
27 Sept 2024	Denbighshire	Rhyl Trellewelyn	Labour	Conservative	Changed hands
6 Sept 2024	Merthyr Tydfil	Bedlinog and Trelewis	Independent or other	Labour	Changed hands
16 Aug 2024	Caerphilly	Aberbargoed and Bargoed	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
5 Jun 2024	Powys	Rhiwcynon	Independent or other	Conservative	Changed hands
30 Apr 2024	Cardiff	Grangetown	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
23 Apr 2024	Pembrokeshire	St Ishmael's	Independent or other	Conservative	Changed hands
29 Mar 2024	Neath Port Talbot	Neath East	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
28 Mar 2024	Flintshire	Brynford and Halkyn	Conservative	Labour	Changed hands
8 Mar 2024	Bridgend	Aberkenfig	Plaid Cymru	Labour	Changed hands
8 Mar 2024	Carmarthenshire	Elli	Independent or other	Independent or other	Same party or group
16 Feb 2024	Neath Port Talbot	Briton Ferry East	Independent or other	Labour	Changed hands
16 Feb 2024	Neath Port Talbot	Rhos	Plaid Cymru	Independent or other	Changed hands
10 Feb 2024	Blaenau Gwent	Ebbw Vale South	Labour	Independent or other	Changed hands
10 Feb 2024	Gwynedd	Criccieth	Independent or other	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
14 Dec 2023	Denbighshire	Rhyl South West	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
1 Dec 2023	Powys	Talybont-on-Usk	Liberal Democrat	Liberal Democrat	Same party or group
18 Nov 2023	Ceredigion	Aberystwyth Penparcau	Independent or other	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
17 Nov 2023	Powys	Crickhowell with Cwmdu and Tretower	Independent or other	Liberal Democrat	Changed hands
1 Sept 2023	Caerphilly	Penmaen	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
28 Apr 2023	Swansea	Penderry	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
21 Apr 2023	Anglesey	Aethwy	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
1 Mar 2023	Wrexham	Smithfield	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
15 Feb 2023	Denbighshire	Rhyl Ty Newydd	Labour	Conservative	Changed hands
3 Feb 2023	Torfaen	Llantarnam	Independent or other	Independent or other	Same party or group
21 Nov 2022	Rhondda Cynon Taf	Abercynon	Labour	Labour	Same party or group
21 Oct 2022	Monmouthshire	Devauden	Conservative	Conservative	Same party or group
20 Oct 2022	Ceredigion	Lampeter	Labour	Plaid Cymru	Changed hands
20 Oct 2022	Rhondda Cynon Taf	Ynysybwl	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
27 Sept 2022	Gwynedd	Llanuwchllyn	Plaid Cymru	Plaid Cymru	Same party or group
24 Aug 2022	Bridgend	Bridgend Central	Labour	Independent or other	Changed hands

From Open Council Data's lists, which it says may be incomplete and may leave out by-elections held on the same day as other elections. Seats also change party between elections when councillors switch groups, so these results alone don't show a party's strength now. Each year's list: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Sources

Seats now come from each council's own list of councillors, updated daily. Who runs each council and its leader are as at 27 October 2026, from the Welsh Local Government Association and the councils' own sites. The 2022 results, polls and by-elections are from published sources linked on this page.