Key dates and reporting deadlines for parties in 2026

Key dates and reporting deadlines for parties in 2026

As part of regulating party finance and maintaining transparency, parties must submit financial reports on donations, loans and expenditure by certain dates.

Parties are also under a duty to confirm their details and renew their registration every year.

Below you can find the deadline dates for the main reporting requirements for political parties in 2026.

7 January 2026Start of the regulated period for the Senedd and Scottish Parliament elections
30 January 2026

Deadline for submitting Quarter 4 (1 October 2025–31 December 2025) donations and loans reports

Last date to submit completed applications to

  • register a new political party
  • amend a name for an existing party
  • amend or add an emblem, or
  • add a description

to be included on ballot papers for the elections taking place on 7 May. Please ensure that your completed application is with us by 5pm. For more information please see Registering and maintaining a party.

30 April 2026

Deadline for submitting Quarter 1 (1 January 2026–31 March 2026) donations and loans reports

Deadline for submitting statement of accounts for parties who end their financial year on 31 December (income and expenditure of £250k or below)

7 May 2026

Polling day:

  • Senedd election
  • Scottish Parliament election
  • Local government elections in England
  • Local authority mayoral elections
  • Parish council elections
8 June 2026Deadline to receive invoices for the Senedd and Scottish Parliamentary elections
6 July 2026Deadline to pay invoices for the Senedd and Scottish Parliamentary elections
7 July 2026Deadline for submitting statement of accounts for parties who end their financial year on 31 December (income or expenditure over £250k)
30 July 2026Deadline for submitting Quarter 2 (1 April 2026–30 June 2026) donations and loans reports
7 August 2026Deadline for submitting spending returns for the Senedd and Scottish Parliamentary elections (expenditure £250,000 or less)
30 October 2026Deadline for submitting Quarter 3 (1 July 2026–30 September 2026) donations and loans reports
7 November 2026Deadline for submitting spending returns for the Senedd and Scottish Parliamentary elections (expenditure over £250,000)