Right now, in the cold, dark winter of 2026, we don’t know the full list. It’s like a celebrity marriage: everyone is talking, but nobody knows who’s actually committed. Sadiq Khan is almost certainly running for a third term, because why stop now when you can still find new ways to annoy the suburban SUV drivers? The Conservatives will likely pick someone who promises to “get tough” on something, probably knife crime, potholes, or the price of a pint in Zone 2.
But here’s the juicy bit: the surprising fact that will make you the star of your next pub quiz. The last time a London mayor was re-elected after just one term was… never. Ken Livingstone served two terms, Boris Johnson served two terms, and now Sadiq Khan is gunning for his third. So if history is any guide, the next election is less a contest and more a coronation, unless someone invents a time machine and brings back a giant fox skeleton.
The Liberal Democrats will put forward someone who is incredibly competent and whom you will forget within 48 hours of the result. The Greens will probably have a candidate who proposes to replace all black cabs with electric recumbent bicycles. And then there will be the actual indie candidates—the ones who promise to ban pigeons or introduce a free croissant for every commuter. You’ll laugh, but that croissant guy might get 4,000 votes.
Map reveals London mayor election vote as Sadiq Khan takes third win
The Day Itself: What to Expect
On 7 May 2026, you will shuffle to your local polling station—probably a draughty church hall or a primary school that smells of stale biscuit. You’ll get a ballot paper the size of a small tablecloth. You’ll have two votes: one for your first-choice candidate and one for your second-choice. This is called the Supplementary Vote system, which is basically political speed-dating: if your top pick gets knocked out, your second choice gets a shot. It’s surprisingly romantic for something involving city hall.
Do you have to vote? No. But if you don’t, you forfeit the right to complain about the pothole on your street that looks like the Grand Canyon. Also, there’s a weird bylaw in the GLA Act that says if turnout drops below 30%, the winner must ride the entire Hammersmith & City line in a pantomime horse costume. (I made that last bit up, but it should be true.)
The results usually come in around midnight on Friday, 8 May. You can stay up, drink cheap wine, and watch the count on a live stream hosted by someone who really loves spreadsheets. The winner will give a speech thanking their “incredible team,” their “amazing family,” and “the good people of London, especially those who didn’t vote for me—I’ll win you over.” You’ll groan, but deep down, you’ll feel a tiny spark of civic duty.
London mayor election: Sadiq Khan clinches historic third term
