King's Speech Scheduled for May 12 or 13, 2026 Following Major Elections
The King's Speech is planned for May 12 or 13, 2026, shortly after the elections on May 7, 2026. These elections will cover the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, thousands of English council seats, and several directly elected mayoralties.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to unveil the government's agenda for the upcoming year during the speech. While some Labour MPs fear that the election results could trigger a leadership challenge against Starmer, others note that there is no necessary link between leadership tensions and the timing of the King's Speech; similar timings occurred in 2022, 2021, and 2016.
The King's Speech marks the state opening of Parliament and signals the start of a new parliamentary session, with the current session having begun in July 2024. Drafted by the government and read from the House of Lords by the Monarch, the speech outlines the intended legislation.
Cabinet ministers began submitting proposals for legislation to be included in the speech around October, with most ministers aware of which bills Starmer wishes to include.
