Northern Ireland's Local Council Mayors, Chairs and Deputies 2026/27

Councils across Northern Ireland have now announced their Mayors, Chairs and Deputies for 2026/27, marking the annual transfer of civic leadership across local government.

Sinn Féin have secured the largest number of First Citizen positions, holding six mayoral or chair roles, while the DUP secured four.

The appointments reflect the continuing importance of local government as councils prepare to deliver key services, oversee major regeneration projects and represent their communities over the next 12 months.

Please see below a full list of the incoming First Citizens for the next 12 months:

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Mayor – Henry Cushinan (Sinn Féin)

Deputy Mayor – Alison Bennington (DUP)

Ards and North Down Borough Council

Mayor – Craig Blaney (UUP)

Deputy Mayor – James Cochrane (DUP)

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Mayor – Mary O'Dowd (Sinn Féin)

Deputy Mayor – Lavelle McIlwrath (DUP)

Belfast City Council

Mayor – Róis-Máire Donnelly (Sinn Féin)

Deputy Mayor – Hedley Abernethy (Alliance)

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

Mayor – Dawn Huggins (DUP)

Deputy Mayor – Sandra Hunter (UUP)

Derry and Strabane District Council

Mayor – Grace Uí Niallais (Sinn Féin)

Deputy Mayor – Catherine McDaid (SDLP)

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Chair - Debbie Coyle - (Sinn Féin)

Vice-Chair - Stephen McCann (Sinn Féin)

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

Mayor - Brian Higginson (DUP)

Deputy Mayor - TBA

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Mayor - Tom Gordon (DUP)

Deputy Mayor - Bethany Carson-Ferris (UUP)

Mid Ulster District Council

Chair - Deirdre Varsani - (Sinn Féin)

Deputy Chair - Eva Cahoon (DUP)

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Chair - Glyn Hanna (DUP)

Deputy Chair - Doire Finn (SDLP)