Currently headed for their best result in history, even accounting for a history of underperforming against polling, the Greens may become a truly national party for the first time this year.
Author: Ballot Box Scotland
SP26 Party Profile: Liberal Democrats
The Lib Dems have had a decade of stagnation in the Scottish Parliament, born of an oddly FPTP-obsessed strategy for a proportional voting system. This time around that approach may actually bear more fruit, especially when paired with positive polling.
SP26 Party Profile: Reform UK
New kids on the block Reform UK are guaranteed to end up with a big group at Holyrood, but it’s unclear whether they will win constituencies or live up to polling overall.
SP26: You’ll have had your MSP then?
With 42 MSPs already retired or deselected, this year’s Holyrood election is all but guaranteed to have the highest turnover in the parliament’s history – but of the 81 MSPs trying to get back in, which are at most risk?
SP26: Bring Out Your Candidates
Nominations have closed for this year’s Holyrood election, with 686 candidates, representing 29 parties plus Independents, vying to take up 129 MSP seats.
Poll Analysis: Survation 16th – 23rd of March 2026
A shockingly quiet period for polling despite the looming election is finally broken with a very much “as you were” feeling: the SNP on track to win, Labour and Reform scrapping for second, and possibly improved Greens.
SP26: Ballot Box Battlegrounds Bonus Round 2 (Wildcards + Central and Lothians West Region)
#48: Inverness and Nairn
#49: Edinburgh Northern
#56: Strathkelvin and Bearsden
#68: Glasgow Southside
#71: Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Plus Central Scotland and Lothians West region
SP26: Ballot Box Battlegrounds Bonus Round 1 (Near Marginals + Mid and Fife Region)
#17: Perthshire North
#18: Edinburgh Central
#21: Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse
#22: Rutherglen and Cambuslang
#26: Uddingston and Bellshill
Plus Mid Scotland and Fife Region
SP26: Ballot Box Battlegrounds 1-5 (+ West Region)
#5: Edinburgh Southern
#4: Dumbarton
#3: East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs
#2: Banffshire and Buchan Coast
#1: Ayr
Plus West Scotland Region
SP26: Ballot Box Battlegrounds 6-10 (+ North East Region)
#10: Shetland Islands
#9: Eastwood
#8: Aberdeenshire East
#7: Perthshire South and Kinross-shire
#6: Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine
Plus North East Scotland Region
