Greater Manchester will hold a mayoral election on 30 July 2026 after Andy Burnham left the role to become an MP in Westminster. Burnham, who has served as mayor since 2017, won the parliamentary seat for Makerfield, triggering a vacancy that must be filled by public vote rather than appointment, according to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Candidates have already been officially confirmed, per GMCA, though the full list has not yet been published.

The voter registration deadline is 14 July 2026 — just over three weeks before the election. This tight timeframe means campaigns will need to move quickly across all ten boroughs in the Combined Authority: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. Local councils are already providing guidance. Stockport Council, for example, has published information on how residents can register and vote.

The Greater Manchester mayor is not a ceremonial position. The role controls real power over transport planning (including the Bee Network bus system), housing investment, spatial planning across the region, police and crime oversight, and influence on economic development. Greater Manchester has roughly 2.8 million people, making this one of the most significant sub-national offices in England outside London.

The timing matters practically. Summer elections on weekdays—the polling will be on a Thursday, standard under UK law—often see lower turnout than elections held during other seasons. Many voters will be on holiday, and campaigns face the challenge of reaching people across a sprawling region during a quieter period. Whether this dampens participation or whether the high stakes of the vacancy draw people to vote is still uncertain.

Burnham shaped what voters expect from this job. During his tenure, he became a nationally known advocate for Greater Manchester, publicly challenging central government policies on everything from COVID-19 lockdowns to rail development. Any successor—regardless of party—will inherit that legacy and likely face pressure to match his public visibility and willingness to push back against Westminster on regional issues.

The timeline is compressed but workable. From announcement to polling day, the contest runs roughly eight weeks, which is shorter than most by-elections in the UK. People across Greater Manchester should check their registration status before 14 July to ensure they can vote in what amounts to one of the country's more consequential sub-national elections.