2026 Municipal and School Board Election  

The next municipal election is October 26, 2026. Polls will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Advanced polling will occur on the following dates: 

• October 10^th and 11^th, 2026 at City Hall (1 Carden Street) from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• October 12^th to 15^th, 2026 at City Hall (1 Carden Street) from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
• October 16^th to 18^th, 2026 at one location in each Ward and City Hall (1 Carden Street) Locations will be specified at a future date. Polls will be open: 
  • October 16^th – 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
  • October 17^th – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
  • October 18^th – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Locations of polling stations will be shared at a later date.  

Voters

In the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election, Guelph voters will elect the positions of Mayor, City Councillors and School Board Trustees. 

The position of Mayor is elected at-large, meaning across the entire City.  

• City Councillors in Guelph are elected by Ward, and each voter selects up to two candidates when voting.   
• School Board Trustees are selected based on the school board you qualify to vote for.  

Find out which Ward you live in.

Update your Voter Information 

Elections Ontario maintains the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario, commonly known as the Voters’ List. The Voters’ List is a list of who is eligible to vote in provincial and municipal elections in Ontario. To check if you are on the Voters’ List, or to update or add your name, visit Elections Ontario.

To confirm or change your school support, visit Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

Need More Information?

For inquiries related to the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 519-837-5625 or at [email protected].

Candidates

The 2026 Municipal Election will see the positions of Mayor, City Councillors and School Board Trustees open to elections. Nominations for these positions will open May 1, 2026 and close on August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. 

Candidate Information Sessions

The City of Guelph is hosting two hybrid Candidate Information Sessions for those interested in learning more about running in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election. Here’s what to expect at each session:

Wednesday, April 1 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Sebastien Haley and Payton Ebel from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will cover:

• Election legislation
• Financial filing requirements
• Third-party advertisers

Monday, April 13 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rick O’Connor, former City Clerk and municipal lawyer for the City of Ottawa, will discuss:

• The role of a City Councillor
• What to expect if elected
• Real-world insights from municipal leadership

You can join us in-person at City Hall (1 Carden Street) in Council Chambers, or online:

Password: Election
Access Code: 2334 539 0231

At both sessions, Guelph’s Clerk’s Office staff will walk you through the nomination process for local candidates.

You’ll also learn about:

• Roles and responsibilities
• Nomination rules
• Eligibility

For more information on these sessions, please contact [email protected].

You can also watch the livestream guelph.ca/live.

Need More Information?

For inquiries related to the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 519-837-5625 or at [email protected].

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