Parish and town councils are the most local level of government in England. These local councils are charged with delivering activities in 3 categories:

• delivering services to meet local needs
• giving the community a voice and representation
• improving the quality of life and community wellbeing

The town council elections will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.

If you are thinking about standing for election as a councillor for one of the new town councils, these pages explain what you need to know including information about nomination papers, how to attend an information session and the key dates and deadlines for the election.

Every council is different but you can find out more about how local councils operate generally on the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils website.