2026 Scottish Parliament election

2026 Scottish Parliament election
Planned for 7 May 2026[1]
All 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament
65 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
 
Leader John Swinney Russell Findlay Anas Sarwar
Party SNP Conservative Labour
Leader since 6 May 2024 27 September 2024 27 February 2021
Leader's seat Perthshire North West Scotland Glasgow
Last election 64 seats 31 seats 22 seats
Current seats 60 28 21
Seats needed 5 36 44
 
Leader Ross Greer / Gillian Mackay Alex Cole-Hamilton Nigel Farage
(UK-wide leader)
Party Green Liberal Democrats Reform
Leader since 29 August 2025 20 August 2021 3 June 2024
Leader's seat West Scotland / Central Scotland Edinburgh Western None
Last election 8 seats 4 seats 0 seats
Current seats 7 5 1
Seats needed 58 60 64
Incumbent First Minister

John Swinney
SNP



The 2026 Scottish Parliament election is planned to be held on Thursday 7 May 2026, and will elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament. It will be the seventh general election since the devolved parliament was established in 1999.

Six parties currently have MSPs in the sixth parliament, although only five won seats at the last Scottish Parliament election in 2021: The Scottish National Party (SNP) led by First Minister John Swinney, the Scottish Conservatives led by Russell Findlay, Scottish Labour led by Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Greens, led by co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, led by Alex Cole-Hamilton. Of these five parties, four have changed their leaders since the 2021 election. In addition, Reform UK have one MSP following a defection from the Conservatives. Six members sit as independents after leaving or being suspended or expelled from their respective parties - two from the SNP, two from Labour, and one Conservative. Ash Regan left the SNP for Alba before later becoming an independent.

Date

Under the Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament would normally be held on the first Thursday in May five years after the 2021 election, i.e. on 7 May 2026.[1] This Act superseded the Scotland Act 1998, which had set elections in every fourth year.[2]

The date of the poll may be varied by up to one month either way by the monarch, on the proposal of the Presiding Officer, making 4 June 2026 the latest possible date for this election, assuming the convention of holding elections on a Thursday stands.[2]

If Parliament itself resolves that it should be dissolved, with at least two-thirds of the members (i.e. 86 Members) voting in favour, the Presiding Officer proposes a date for an extraordinary general election and the Parliament is dissolved by the monarch by royal proclamation.

It does not necessarily require a two-thirds majority to precipitate an extraordinary general election, because under the Scotland Act Parliament is also dissolved if it fails to nominate one of its members to be First Minister within certain time limits, irrespective of whether at the beginning or in the middle of a parliamentary term. Therefore, if the First Minister resigned, Parliament would then have 28 days to elect a successor (s46(2)b and s46(3)a). If no new First Minister was elected then the Presiding Officer would ask for Parliament to be dissolved under s3(1)a. This process could also be triggered if the First Minister lost a vote of confidence by a simple majority (i.e. more than 50%), as they must then resign (Scotland Act 1998 s45(2)).

No extraordinary general elections have been held to date. Any extraordinary general elections would be in addition to ordinary general elections, unless held less than six months before the due date of an ordinary general election, in which case they supplant it. The subsequent ordinary general election reverts to the first Thursday in May, five years after the previous ordinary election.[1][3]

Election system, seats, and regions

Main articles: Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions and List of Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions (2026–)

The total number of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) elected to the Parliament is 129.

The Scottish Parliament uses an additional member system (AMS), designed to produce approximate proportional representation for each region. There are 8 regions, each sub-divided into smaller constituencies. There are a total of 73 constituencies. Each constituency elects one MSP by the plurality (first past the post) system of election. Each region elects 7 additional MSPs using an additional member system. A modified D'Hondt method, using the constituency results, is used to elect these additional MSPs.[4][5]

The Scottish Parliament constituencies have not been coterminous with Scottish Westminster constituencies since the 2005 general election, when the 72 former UK Parliament constituencies were replaced with a new set of 59, generally larger, constituencies (see Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004). The boundaries used for the Scottish Parliament elections were then revised for the 2011 election. The Boundary Commission also recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament,[6] which were also implemented in 2011.

The Second Periodic Review of constituency and regional boundaries began in September 2022 and was completed by May 2025.[7][8] The proposals were formally approved in October 2025, establishing the constituencies and regions that will form the basis for the 2026 election.[9]


MSPs not standing for re-election

A record number of MSPs are not seeking re-election.[10][11][12]

Members of Scottish Parliament not standing for re-election
MSP Seat First elected Party Date announced
John Mason Glasgow Shettleston 2011 Independent (elected as SNP) 25 April 2023[13]
James Dornan Glasgow Cathcart SNP 10 August 2023[14]
Christine Grahame Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale 1999 29 September 2024[15]
Ruth Maguire Cunninghame South 2016 16 November 2024[16]
Elena Whitham Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 2021 25 November 2024[17]
Humza Yousaf Glasgow Pollok 2011 17 December 2024[18]
Oliver Mundell Dumfriesshire 2016 Conservative 9 January 2025[19]
Richard Lochhead Moray 1999 SNP 26 January 2025[20]
Joe FitzPatrick Dundee City West 2007 28 January 2025[21]
Michelle Thomson Falkirk East 2021 29 January 2025[22]
Audrey Nicoll Aberdeen South and North Kincardine 9 February 2025[23]
Evelyn Tweed Stirling 12 February 2025[24]
Graeme Dey Angus South 2011 19 February 2025[25]
Beatrice Wishart Shetland 2019 Liberal Democrats 20 February 2025[26]
Liz Smith Mid Scotland and Fife 2007 Conservative 25 February 2025[27]
Rona Mackay Strathkelvin and Bearsden 2016 SNP 25 February 2025[28]
Edward Mountain Highlands and Islands Conservative 26 February 2025[29]
Gordon MacDonald Edinburgh Pentlands 2011 SNP 28 February 2025[30]
Annabelle Ewing Cowdenbeath 2 March 2025[31]
Richard Leonard Central Scotland 2016 Labour 4 March 2025[32]
Shona Robison Dundee City East 1999 SNP 5 March 2025[33]
Fiona Hyslop Linlithgow 5 March 2025[33]
Alex Rowley Mid Scotland and Fife 2014 Labour 6 March 2025[34]
Bill Kidd Glasgow Anniesland 2007 SNP 12 March 2025[35]
Nicola Sturgeon Glasgow Southside 1999 12 March 2025[36]
Natalie Don-Innes Renfrewshire North and West 2021 13 March 2025[37]
Mairi Gougeon Angus North and Mearns 2016 14 March 2025[38]
Michael Matheson Falkirk West 1999 16 March 2025[39]
Willie Coffey Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley 2007 17 March 2025[40]
Douglas Ross Highlands and Islands 2016 Conservative 25 March 2025[41]
Maurice Golden North East Scotland 7 April 2025[42]
Rhoda Grant Highlands and Islands 1999 Labour 15 May 2025[43]
Sarah Boyack Lothian 1999 Labour 16 June 2025[44]
Alison Johnstone Lothian 2011 Presiding Officer[a] 20 June 2025[45]
Kate Forbes Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch 2016 SNP 4 August 2025[46]
Mercedes Villalba North East Scotland 2021 Labour 2 September 2025[47]
Tess White North East Scotland 2021 Conservative 2 September 2025[48]
Kevin Stewart Aberdeen Central 2011 SNP 8 September 2025[49]
Pam Duncan-Glancy Glasgow 2021 Labour 21 December 2025[50]

Candidates

Constituencies

Seat SNP[51] Labour Conservative Greens Lib Dem Reform UK Other
Aberdeen Central Jack Middleton Jenny Laing Stewart Whyte Yi-pei Chou Turvey
Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine Stephen Flynn Matthew Lee Liam Kerr Mel Sullivan
Aberdeen Donside Jackie Dunbar Lynn Thomson Hannah Powell Michael Turvey Kelly Wilson (Sovereignty)[52]
Aberdeenshire East Gillian Martin Janine Langler Douglas Lumsden[53] David Evans
Aberdeenshire West Fatima Joji Kate Blake Alexander Burnett Jeff Goodhall
Airdrie Neil Gray Suzanne Macleod Ed Thornley
Almond Valley Angela Constance Jordan Stokoe[54] Damian Doran-Timson Caron Lindsay
Angus North and Mearns Dawn Black Simon Watson Tracey Smith Martyn Knights Lynne Tammi-Connelly (independent)[55]
Angus South Lloyd Melville Heather Doran Isobel Knights Moira Macpherson Brown (Sovereignty)[52]
Argyll and Bute Jenni Minto Callum George Amanda Hampsey[56] Alan Reid[57] Fiona Nelson (ISP)[58]
Ayr Siobhian Brown Brian McGinley[59] Sharon Dowey[60] Desmond Bouce Denise Sommerville (independent)[61]
Banffshire and Buchan Coast Karen Adam Brooke Ritchie James Adams Ian Bailey David McHutchon (Sovereignty)[52] Christina Hendry (Alba)[62]
Bathgate Pauline Stafford Jenny Young[59] Peter Heggie Stephen Harte John Hannah (ISP)[58]
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Maree Todd Eva Kestner[63] Elaine Kirby David Green[64]
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Katie Hagmann[65] Carol Mochan[66] Tracey Clark Karen Utting Sean Davis (independent)[67]
Clackmannanshire and Dunblane Keith Brown Suzanne Grahame [59] Alexander Stewart[68] Sally Pattle Eva Comrie (independent)[58]
Clydebank and Milngavie Marie McNair Callum McNally[69] Alix Mathieson[70] Ben Langmead
Clydesdale Máiri McAllan Lynsey Hamilton[66] Richard Brodie
Coatbridge and Chryston Fulton MacGregor Kieron Higgins Andy Bruce[60] Daniel Mancini Julie McAnulty (ISP)[58]
Cowdenbeath David Barratt Fiona Sword[71] Darren Watt[60] James Calder Laurie Moffat (Sovereignty)[52]
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Jamie Hepburn James McPhilemy[69] Brian Howieson Alan McManus (Sovereignty)[52]
Cunninghame North Kenneth Gibson Matthew McGowan Ronnie Stalker[60] Christine Murdoch
Cunninghame South Patricia Gibson Katy Clark Emma Farthing
Dumbarton Sophie Traynor Jackie Baillie[72] Gary Mulvaney[60] Elaine Ford Andrew Muir
Dumfriesshire Stephen Thompson Linda Dorward Craig Hoy Iain McDonald
Dundee City East Stephen Gethins Cheryl-Ann Cruickshank[69] Jack Cruickshanks[60] Tanvir Ahmad Allan Petrie (independent)[58]
Dundee City West Heather Anderson Michael Marra Daniel Coleman
Dunfermline Shirley-Anne Somerville Joe Long Thomas Heald Lauren Buchanan-Quigley
East Kilbride Collette Stevenson Joe Fagan[66] Brian Whittle Leigh Butler
East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs Paul McLennan Martin Whitfield[73] Miles Briggs Tim McKay
Eastwood Kirsten Oswald Kayleigh Quinn[66] Jackson Carlaw Euan Davidson Colette Walker (ISP)[58]
Edinburgh Central Angus Robertson James Dalgleish Jo Mowat Lorna Slater[74] Charles Dundas
Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent Kate Campbell Katherine Sangster[66] Tim Jones[60] Alan Grant
Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith Ben Macpherson Oliver Thomas[66] Liss Owen
Edinburgh North Western Lyn Jardine Irshad Ahmad Alex Cole-Hamilton Derek James Kerr (independent)
Edinburgh Northern Euan Hyslop Christopher Cowdy Sanne Dijkstra-Downie
Edinburgh South Western Simita Kumar Catriona Munro Sue Webber[75] Andy Williamson
Edinburgh Southern Sally Donald Daniel Johnson[76] Marie-Clair Munro Jane Pickard
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire John Redpath Kaymarie Hughes [59] Rachael Hamilton Ray Georgeson
Falkirk East and Linlithgow Martyn Day Siobhan Paterson[59] Lewis Stein Paul McGarry
Falkirk West Gary Bouse Paul Godzik[66] Lucy Smith
Fife North East Stefan Hoggan-Radu Elizabeth Carr-Ellis Edward Sheasby Willie Rennie[77]
Galloway and West Dumfries Emma Harper Jack McConnel[78] Finlay Carson Tracey Warman
Glasgow Anniesland Colm Merrick Eunis Jassemi[79] Sandesh Gulhane James Speirs
Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston David Linden Pauline McNeill[66] John Murray Amy Carman
Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok

Zen Ghani

Anas Sarwar[66] Kyle Park Peter McLaughlin Yvonne Ridley (Workers Party of Britain)
Glasgow Central Alison Thewliss Vonnie Sandlan Naveed Asghar Paul Kennedy Paul Steele (ISP)[58]
Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn Ivan McKee Paul Sweeney[66] Josephine Macleod Nicholas Moohan
Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill Bob Doris Daniel O'Malley
Glasgow Southside Kaukab Stewart Mo Ameen Holly Bruce Rachel Park George Galloway (Workers Party of Britain)
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Alex Kerr Davy Russell Aisha Mir John Forbes (ISP)[58]
Inverclyde Stuart McMillan Francesca Brennan[66] Ted Runciman[60] Jamie Greene
Inverness and Nairn Emma Roddick Shaun Fraser[80] Ruraidh Stewart[81] Neil Alexander [82] Fergus Ewing (independent)[83] Duncan Macpherson (independent)
Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley Alan Brown Ewan McPhee[84] Michael Gregori
Kirkcaldy David Torrance Claire Baker[66] Fraser Graham
Mid Fife and Glenrothes Jenny Gilruth Afifa Khanam Ed Scotcher
Midlothian North Colin Beattie Caitlin Stott Phil Doggart Jenny Butler
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale Calum Kerr Daniel Coleman[69] Keith Cockburn Duncan Dunlop
Moray Laura Mitchell David Blair[85] Tim Eagle[86] Morven-May McCallum
Motherwell and Wishaw Clare Adamson Ayeshah Khan[66] Hayley Bennie Greig McArthur (independent)
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Alasdair Allan Donald MacKinnon[66] George MacPherson Jamie Dobson Kenneth McKenzie (Sovereignty)[52]
Orkney Islands Robert Leslie[87] Mike Macleod[88] Jamie Halcro Johnston[89] Liam McArthur
Paisley George Adam Neil Bibby[66] James Kenyon
Perthshire North John Swinney Angela Bailey Murdo Fraser[60] Claire McLaren
Perthshire South and Kinross-shire Jim Fairlie Luke Thomson Roz McCall[90] Amanda Clark
Renfrewshire North and Cardonald Michelle Campbell Jack Hall Grant Toghill
Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley Tom Arthur Paul O'Kane[66] Ross Stalker
Rutherglen and Cambuslang Clare Haughey Monica Lennon[69] Annie Wells Patrick Logue
Shetland Islands Hannah Mary Goodlad John Erskine[91] Emma Macdonald
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Eilidh Munro[92] Isla McCay[92] Helen Crawford[60] Andrew Baxter Stuart Jackson (Sovereignty)[52]
Stirling Alyn Smith Kainde Manji[66] Stephen Kerr Jill Reilly Matthew Riley (independent)[55]
Strathkelvin and Bearsden Denis Johnston Colette McDiarmid[69] Pam Gosal[93] Adam Harley
Uddingston and Bellshill Steven Bonnar Mark Griffin[66] Meghan Gallacher Den Munnoch David Baird (Independent)[55]

Regions

Seat SNP Labour Conservative Greens Lib Dems Alba Reform UK Other
Central Scotland and Lothians West Gillian Mackay, Claire Williams, Cameron Glasgow Paul McGarry, Lucy Smith
Edinburgh and Lothians East Lorna Slater, Kate Nevens, Q Manivannan, Chas Booth, Kayleigh O'Neill, Adam Al-Khateb, Mridul Wadhwa, Jo Phillips, Dan Heap, Astri JS Kvassnes, Alex Staniforth, Connal Hughes Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Jane Pickard, Charles Dundas, Lewis Younie Jeremy Balfour (independent), Ash Regan (independent)
Glasgow Patrick Harvie, Holly Bruce, Iris Duane, Rana Noor Mohamed, Isable Ruffell, Kit Renard Daniel O'Malley, Brian Howieson, Paul Kennedy, James Spiers Yvonne Ridley (WPGB), George Galloway (WPGB)
Highlands and Islands Ariane Burgess, Kristopher Leask, Kate Willis, Draeyk Van der Horn, Alex Armitage, Anne Thomas, Julie Christie Ruaridh Ormston (Scottish Rural Party)
Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell, Mags Hall, Caitlin Ripley, Ryan Blackadder, Marie Stadtler, Clare Andrews, Andrew Adam, Paul Vallot, Elspeth Maclachlan Claire McLaren
North East Scotland Guy Ingerson, Maggie Chapman, Esme Houston, William Linegar, Sylvia Hardie, Kathryn Vincent, Charlotte Horne, Remi Salvan Yi-pei Chou Turvey, Michael Turvey, Tanvir Ahmed, Jeff Goodhall
South Scotland Laura Moodie, Anne McGuinness, Dominic Ashmole, Neil MacKinnon, Barbra Harvie, Cameron Garrett, Tim Clancey, Tom Kerr, Korin Vallance Duncan Dunlop, Roy Georgeson, Aisha Mir, Richard Brodie, Charlotte Olcay, Michael Gregori, Tracey Warman
West Scotland Ross Greer, Cara McKee, Karen Sharkey, Paula Baker, Ross Collins Adam Harley, Jamie Greene Alasdair Fletcher (Scottish Rural Party)

Opinion polling

Main article: Opinion polling for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election
Key

  SNP – Scottish National Party
  Conservative – Scottish Conservatives
  Labour – Scottish Labour
  Lib Dem – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  Green – Scottish Greens
  Alba – Alba Party
  Reform – Reform UK

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Originally elected as Scottish Green MSP

References

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    The Highlands are my home and I'm standing to give our communities the strong, local voice they deserve in Holyrood. It's time for real change"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  82. ^ Pack, Mark (13 May 2025). "Neil Alexander selected for Inverness and Nairn". Mark Pack.
  83. ^ "SNP's Fergus Ewing to run as an independent in Scottish elections". BBC News. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  84. ^ McPhee, Ewan (23 August 2025). "It's a huge privilege to have been selected by local members as the @ScottishLabour candidate for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley. I grew up in Kilmarnock and I'm here to win this seat in next year's elections. The choice in 2026 is more of the same or a new direction for Scotland". x.com. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  85. ^ https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/david-blair-named-as-labour-s-moray-candidate-for-holyrood-e-418471/
  86. ^ Moray Conservatives [@MorayTories] (12 May 2025). "We are delighted to announce Tim Eagle has been selected as the Moray candidate for next year's Scottish Parliament elections.
    We look forward to meeting as many Moravians as we can in the next year as we campaign across Moray"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  87. ^ "Robert Leslie to Contest Orkney Constituency for the SNP". The Orkney News. 15 May 2025.
  88. ^ https://www.hebrides-news.com/stornoway-man-mike-macleod-orkney-labour-candidate-scottish-parliament-election-171025.html
  89. ^ https://x.com/jhalcrojohnston/status/1957029019544629641
  90. ^ McCall, Roz [@RozMccall] (1 May 2025). "📣 I'm honoured to have been selected as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire ahead of the 2026 election.
    Thank you to @mspliz for her dedication and hard work as the Candidate over many years.
    I've always stood up for our communities as a regional MSP and will continue to do so. I am ready to work hard to earn your trust and deliver the strong local voice you deserve. 💙
    #TeamRoz #PerthshireSouth #Kinrossshire #ScotConservatives"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  91. ^ "Labour candidate's call for action on digital connectivity as petition closes". Shetland News. 29 September 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  92. ^ a b Maclennan, Scott. "SNP and Labour confirm Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch candidates in race to succeed Kate Forbes with Eilidh Munro for the SNP and Aviemore's Isla McCay for Labour". Ross-shire Journal. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  93. ^ Gosal, Pam [@PamGosalMSP] (12 May 2025). "It's a great honour to have been selected as the @ScotTories candidate for Strathkelvin and Bearsden for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
    As an MSP for West Scotland I have always worked hard on the things that really matter to local residents and businesses. I promise to continue to fight for common sense 💪🏼💙"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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