when is the next uk election

The next UK general election must be held no later than 15 August 2029, but it could be called earlier.

General election timing

• UK law now allows general elections to be called at any time, but there is a hard deadline of 15 August 2029 for the current Parliament.

• This deadline is calculated as five years from the start of the current Parliament on 9 July 2024, plus the usual campaign period.

Next major scheduled elections

• The next big nationwide date already in the calendar is Thursday 7 May 2026, when widespread local council elections are due in many areas of England.

• Various local and by‑elections also take place on other dates, but 7 May 2026 is the main upcoming country‑wide local polling day.

Key things to keep in mind

• A surprise early general election is always possible if the government decides to call one before 2029.

• For your specific constituency, local election dates and any by‑elections are usually listed on your council’s elections or “upcoming elections” page.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.