Election 2026

The Scottish Parliament election was on Thursday 7 May.

There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

Everyone in Scotland is represented by 8 MSPs. One is a constituency MSP and the other 7 are regional MSPs.

After the election

New MSPs sworn in

After they’re elected, all MSPs must take the oath of allegiance or make the solemn affirmation in front of the Clerk at a meeting of the Parliament. MSPs were sworn in on Thursday 14 May.

An MSP can’t take part until they have taken the oath or made the solemn affirmation. An MSP that does not do this (normally within 2 months) stops being an MSP.

Presiding Officer election

Kenneth Gibson MSP was elected by MSPs as the new Presiding Officer.

Clare Adamson MSP and Katy Clark MSP were elected as Deputy Presiding Officers.

Find out more about the role of the Presiding Officer

SPICe explainer on how the PO is elected

How the First Minister is elected

When you vote, you are not electing the First Minister.

Instead, the First Minister is elected by the new MSPs. They will vote for one MSP that they think should be the First Minister. In every previous election, the winner has been the leader of the biggest party.

SPICe explainer on how the First Minister is elected

SPICe election blogs

SPICe will publish a series of blogs to explain what will happen in the first few meetings of the Parliament.

SPICe election blog hub page

What happens next

The First Minister will select ministers for the Scottish Government. Members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be appointed, and parliamentary committees will be established.

Any Bills that fell at the end of the last session can be reintroduced and the process would begin again from the start.

Petitions can be submitted again. Cross-party groups can also now be re-established.