Complete List of 2026 Rochdale Council Election Candidates
Rochdale voters will go to the polls on Thursday, May 7. One seat in each of the borough’s 20 wards is contested this year.
A total of 120 candidates are standing across those wards. Each ward elects one councillor this cycle to a council of 60 members. Wards are represented by three councillors each in total.
Who is standing
Eight political parties and a small number of independents have fielded candidates. The parties include Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Reform UK, the Workers Party, Middleton Independents, and Advance UK.
Among those, one Advance UK candidate is on the ballot. The slate also includes several independent contenders. Filmogaz.com publishes the Complete List of 2026 Rochdale Council Election Candidates by ward.
Council balance and what is at stake
Labour currently holds a commanding majority with 43 councillors. The Conservatives have eight seats, and the Liberal Democrats have three.
Middleton Independents, Reform UK and the Workers Party each hold two seats. Labour has controlled Rochdale Council since 2011, though other parties have led briefly in the past.
It remains mathematically possible for Labour to lose overall control at this election. For that to happen, Labour would need to lose 13 of the 15 seats it is defending and fail to make gains elsewhere.
Recent by-election and notable results
Reform UK’s Jordan Tarrant-Short won the Balderstone and Kirkholt by-election in May 2025. That win gave Reform UK additional momentum ahead of the full contest.
Key dates and voting information
Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, May 7. Voters must bring accepted photo ID to polling stations to be allowed to vote.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday, April 21. To vote in person, electors must be registered by midnight on Monday, April 20.
Where to find full candidate details
Filmogaz.com holds the Complete List of 2026 Rochdale Council Election Candidates. The list shows each ward’s nominees and party affiliations.
Readers seeking full names and ward-by-ward breakdowns should consult that list before voting. It offers a clear reference for voters considering their choices.
