The 2026 Cambridge City Council election was held on 7 May 2026 to elect members of Cambridge City Council in Cambridgeshire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections.
Prior to the election, the council was under Labour majority control. The election saw the council go under no overall control, and the Labour leader of the council, Cameron Holloway, lost his seat. Although they lost their majority, Labour remained the largest party on the council. They subsequently formed a minority administration, with Labour councillor Katie Thornburrow being appointed the new leader of the council at a meeting on 1 June 2026.
Due to ongoing local government reorganisation, this is the final election to Cambridge 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.
Background In 2024, the Labour Party retained control of the council.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 25 23 10 11 5 6 1 1 Did not exist 1 1 0 Changes 2024–2026: August 2024: Mairéad Healy (Independent, elected as Labour) resigns – by-election held September 2024 September 2024: Beth Gardiner-Smith (Labour) wins by-election March 2025: Sam Carling (Labour) and Alice Gilderdale (Labour) resign – by-elections held May 2025 May 2025: Jamie Dalzell (Liberal Democrats) and Bob Illingworth (Liberal Democrats) gain by-elections from Labour August 2025: Dave Baigent (Labour) joins Your Party March 2026: Ingrid Flaubert (Liberal Democrats) joins Green Party
Election result
Incumbents Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Abbey Matthew Howard Green No Arbury Iva Divkovic Labour No Castle Simon Smith Labour Yes Cherry Hinton Russ McPherson Labour No Coleridge Anna Smith Labour Yes East Chesterton Baiju Thittala Labour No King's Hedges Martin Smart Labour Yes Market Katie Porrer Liberal Democrats Yes Newnham Cameron Holloway Labour Yes Petersfield Richard Robertson Labour Co-op No Queen Edith's Daniel Lee Liberal Democrats No Romsey Dinah Pounds Labour No Trumpington Olaf Hauk Liberal Democrats Yes West Chesterton Richard Swift Labour Yes
Candidates Abbey
Arbury
Castle
Cherry Hinton
Coleridge
East Chesterton
King's Hedges
Market
Newnham
Petersfield
Queen Edith's
Romsey
Trumpington
West Chesterton
References