↓ When is the Senedd in recess?
↓ When was the last Senedd election?
↓ Who won the last Senedd election?
↓ How many people voted in the last Senedd election?
↓ Will Senedd elections happen more often now?
↓ How did the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) change in 2026?
↓ Why did the Senedd need more Members?
↓ Who are the Members in my constituency?
↓ Can the Senedd raise taxes in Wales?
↓ Is there a minimum number of Members needed for Plenary to take place?
↓ Will political parties be able to update their lists?
↓ Did the Senedd building need to be made bigger to accommodate the extra Members?
↓ How can I share your information?
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Senedd?
The Senedd is located in Cardiff Bay.
The building is open to the public throughout the year and entry is free. Inside, there’s plenty to explore – you can enjoy exhibitions, join a guided tour, watch live Parliamentary business or relax in our café.
Find out What’s On at the Senedd.
Don’t forget you don’t need to come to Cardiff Bay to watch our Members debating in Plenary. Sessions are broadcast live and are available to watch online on Senedd.tv.
When does the Senedd sit?
Find out when Plenary and committees are meeting: Weekly timetable
Find out Senedd term dates: recess dates.
Plenary
All Members meet weekly in the Senedd for Plenary. This is where they speak on your behalf, question Welsh Government Ministers, debate and vote on important issues, and pass laws that affect everyone in Wales.
Plenary usually takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during term time.
It is open for the public to come and watch in person, or online at Senedd.tv.
Committees
Most Members of the Senedd sit on committees, which meet every one or two weeks during term time.
Committees are small groups of Members who look at specific topics or issues. Members examine issues in depth and hear directly from the public and experts. Committees are where much of the detailed work of the Senedd happens.
Committees generally meet on the Senedd estate in Cardiff Bay, but can also decide to meet in other places around Wales if relevant.
Committees usually meet in public and their proceedings can be watched on Senedd TV.
When is the Senedd in recess?
Find out when the Senedd will be in recess on our recess dates page.
Who leads the Senedd?
The First Minister is the leader of the Welsh Government. Rhun ap Iorwerth is the current First Minister of Wales and the leader of Plaid Cymru, which became the largest party in the Senedd after the 2026 Senedd election.
During weekly Plenary meetings, the First Minister answers questions from other Members about Welsh Government policy, spending, and decisions about the day-to-day running of public services in Wales.
Plenary meetings are chaired by the Llywydd, or Presiding Officer, who sits at the front of the Siambr facing other Members. A similar role to Speakers in parliaments around the world, the Llywydd is responsible for making sure the Senedd runs fairly and effectively. They manage debates, keep order, and ensure all Members can speak if they want to. The current Llywydd is Huw Irranca-Davies.
Find out more: Who’s who in the Senedd?
When was the last Senedd election?
The last Senedd election was held on 7 May 2026.
Explore previous Senedd election results, including by-elections.
Who won the Senedd election?
Plaid Cymru won the most seats in the 2026 Senedd election (43) and formed the Welsh Government. Reform UK won 34, Welsh Labour 9, Welsh Conservatives 7, Wales Green Party 2 and the Welsh Liberal Democrats 1.
Find out more: Senedd election: an initial analysis of the results.
How many people voted in the last Senedd election?
Over 1.2 million voted in the last Senedd election on 7 May 2026. Based on valid votes, the turnout was 51.6%. This compares to 46.6% at the 2021 election. This is the highest turnout at any Senedd election. (‘Valid votes’ means ballot papers that have not been spoilt or disallowed).
Senedd Research has produced an article which gives more information about turnout at previous Senedd elections and how this compares to UK general elections.
Will Senedd elections happen more often now?
Yes. Starting from 2026, Senedd elections will take place every four years.
How did the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) change in 2026?
The election on 7 May 2026 marked the biggest change to the Senedd for 25 years. Here are the key changes:
- 96 Members: From 2026, the Senedd is made up of 96 Members. Previously it had 60.
- A new voting system: Members of the Senedd were elected through a closed proportional list system, where voters choose either a political party or an independent candidate.
- New constituencies: Wales has 16 constituencies, replacing the 40 constituencies and five regions it had before. The new constituencies were created by pairing the 32 UK Parliament constituencies for Wales. Six Members of the Senedd have been elected in each constituency.
- New rules: Anyone standing for election in Wales must live in Wales.
- More frequent elections: Senedd elections will now take place every four years.
Why did the Senedd need more Members?
The Senedd has had the same number of Members for 25 years, despite an increase in its powers.
The Senedd now possesses full law-making powers and the ability to raise taxes in Wales, which it could not do when it was created in 1999.
More Members will give the Senedd greater ability to look at and challenge the Welsh Government’s plans and spending on major issues like the health service, education and transport, giving your community a stronger voice when these decisions are made.
The changes will strengthen and prepare the Senedd for the future.
The Senedd is the smallest parliament in the UK and one of the smallest in Europe. Increasing the number of Members to 96 will bring it more in line with other countries of a similar size to Wales, like Scotland which has 129 Members and Northern Ireland which has 90.
There has been a lot of research into whether the Senedd has enough Members.
In 2011, there was a public vote (referendum) on whether the then Assembly should have more law-making powers. A total of 63.5% of voters were in favour of the change.
In 2015, the Assembly Commission published a report looking at the future of the National Assembly for Wales. It unanimously called for more Members, stating the Assembly was “underpowered and overstretched”.
Previous research conducted by the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform, the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform and the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform, all recognised the need for change and growth.
Who are the Members in my constituency?
Not sure what your constituency is or who your Members are? You can use your postcode to search for both.
Constituencies were different before 2026 - find out more: What are the new constituencies for the 2026 Senedd election?
Can the Senedd raise taxes in Wales?
Yes, the Senedd can raise some taxes in Wales. Almost four-fifths of Welsh Government funding comes from the UK Government through the block grant. The remainder of the funding comes from borrowing and devolved taxes: Welsh Rates of Income Tax (14.3%), nondomestic rates (4.3%), Land Transaction Tax and Landfill Disposals Tax (1.6%).
The devolution of taxes has had an increase on available funding for the Welsh Government. During the Sixth Senedd they led to an equivalent growth of 3.8% on day-to-day funding, however progress in expanding these powers has been slow. But, with new and further taxes on the table, policymakers in the Seventh Senedd will have the opportunity to further shape Wales’ fiscal devolution journey.
Find out more: Fiscal devolution in Wales
Is there a minimum number of Members needed for Plenary to take place?
There is no quorum – a minimum number of Members needed - for Plenary meetings to take place. However, under Standing Order 12.46, a vote is not valid unless at least ten Members participate. Members who record that they are abstaining from the vote are included in this total.
If a Member of the Senedd leaves their seat, will there be a by-election or will the next person on the party list replace them?
There will not be a by-election if a Member leaves their seat between Senedd elections. If a Member vacates their seat during the term, they will be replaced by the next eligible person on the political party list they were elected on.
If the Member is elected as an independent candidate, or the political party’s list has no more eligible persons, the seat will remain vacant until the next Senedd election.
Find out more about how party lists work.
Will political parties be able to update their lists?
No. Once final, political party lists cannot be updated throughout a term. They will remain fixed as they were at the time of the Senedd election.
Will Members be allowed to change parties during their term or change to sit as an independent Member?
There is nothing in the legislation that would stop a Member from changing parties or changing to sit as an independent Member. Membership of political groups in the Senedd is currently dealt with in the Senedd’s Standing Orders (1.3). Political parties will also have their own views on this.
If a Member of the Senedd leaves their seat (for example, by resigning or being disqualified) after switching to a different political party, their replacement will be the next eligible and willing candidate from the party list they were originally elected on.
So if someone was elected as a Member for Party A, later joined Party B, and then resigned, their seat would go to the next person on the Party A list.
What happens if a reserve candidate on a party list changes political party? Would they still be elected if the current Member resigns from the seat?
If a reserve candidate on a list resigns from that party or changes political parties during the Senedd term, the party can stop their name being put forward as the next person to fill a vacancy.
This only applies if the person is no longer a member of the political party that submitted the list. The party must also notify the Constituency Returning Officer when the vacancy arises that the person’s name is not to be put forward to fill the position. The Constituency Returning Officer will carry out any necessary checks before informing the Llywydd of the next person on the list who will fill the vacancy instead.
This is set out in the Government of Wales Act 2006, section 11
Did the Senedd building need to be made bigger to accommodate the extra Members?
The Senedd’s debating chamber, the Siambr, has been altered to accommodate all 96 Members. Work started in April 2025 and was completed in spring 2026.
The original design of the Siambr, by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), allowed room for expansion if there was ever an increase in Members. Although this is still the case, work needs to be done to install things like desks and ICT equipment.
Find out more: 20 Years of the Senedd Building: Inside the Welsh Parliament
How can I share your information?
Head over to our Resources webpage to download or order our public information material, booklets and leaflets.
