Holyrood 2026: The constituency boundaries that are changing, and why it might affect who wins
Sweeping boundary changes are coming in across Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Countless Scots will find they are in a brand new constituency when they go to vote in the Holyrood election in May.
Population changes across the country means new boundaries have been drawn up for this election, meaning the majority of Scots will no longer be voting for the exact same seat as they did in 2021.
Most of the changes are in the central belt, particularly in Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is because there has been a significant population shift in recent years from west to east, and growth in the number of people living in east and west Lothian.
Kirsty Mavor, secretary at Boundaries Scotland, said: “The Boundaries commissioner is required to undertake a review of boundaries every eight to 10 years, so it is a statutory obligation.
“There are a mix of factors that are considered, so you need to take into account local government boundaries and the size of the electorate.
“But then there is also leeway to take geography into account, which tends to happen in the more remote areas, and local ties - so it is not just numbers.”
Ms Mavor hopes those who are now in a new constituency boundary will be aware thanks to several rounds of public consultation, but there is a chance some will be oblivious until they turn up at the polling station and see their polling card.
She said: “There has been significant movement from west to east, to the areas of Edinburgh, East Lothian and West Lothian, which is why there are quite a few changes there.”
Almost every seat in these areas, and in Glasgow, has been redesigned for the election on May 7.
This could be of benefit to some parties as communities are shuffled around and regrouped.
Allan Faulds from Ballot Box Scotland thinks there are two constituencies where the boundary changes could have a significant impact on the outcome of the vote.
He told Scotland on Sunday: “Most of the boundary changes are in the central belt.
“For most constituencies it is just shuffling around massive SNP majorities so they won’t really be affected, but the two really interesting ones for me are Edinburgh Central and Edinburgh Northern.”
The SNP gained Edinburgh Central from the Scottish Conservatives in 2021 with Angus Robertson, who is hoping to win the seat of the same name again in May.
But the new 2026 boundaries mean this seat now covers areas previously captured by Edinburgh Southern - held by Scottish Labour’s Daniel Johnson.
Mr Faulds said: “The areas from Edinburgh Southern mean it could be easiest for Labour to win Edinburgh Central, and it is the best chance for the Greens too.
“In the council elections the Greens narrowly came out on top, so it is now a three-way marginal seat between the SNP, Labour and the Greens - any one of the three could win, and the Greens have never won a constituency seat before.”
He added: “The other one is Edinburgh Northern, which is a completely new constituency.
“The Lib Dems could barely hide their glee when this was drawn up, because the Lib Dems are a formidable election machine in Edinburgh.
“It will be really worth watching this seat because I think the Lib Dems will win it. It is hard to get the models to prove that, but I think they have a good chance.”
The Greens could also benefit from the boundary changes happening in the Glasgow area.
This is because Glasgow Kelvin, which was a key target for the party in the 2021 election, has been split into four, and because the regional Glasgow boundaries have changed too.
Mr Faulds said: “The Glasgow region has lost Cardonald, which was a really strong area for Labour, so the region is now better for the Greens.
“If this boundary had been in place in 2021, the Greens would have won a second seat in Glasgow.
“Hamilton and East Kilbride has also been moved to the South Scotland region - had there been a 17th seat available in this region in 2021, the Greens would have got it.”
Mr Faulds has been pouring over the new constituency boundaries to see exactly what has and has not changed ahead of polling day on May 7.
A few constituencies have new names, but are not actually changing any boundaries. This includes Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine; Airdrie; Fife North East; and Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
Most of the changes are in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Starting off in the capital - the Merchiston, Marchmont and Sciennes neighbourhoods, previously part of Edinburgh Southern, will now be covered by Edinburgh Central.
Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent is a new constituency which will now take in the Portobello, Craigmillar, Wallyford and Whitecraigs areas, as well as Tranent and Elphinstone from East Lothian.
Craigentinny, Duddingston, Letih and most of Leith Walk will now be covered by Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith.
Corstorphine, Murrayfield and Ratho will now be covered by Edinburgh North Western.
Areas of the city around the Forth, Inverleith, Silverknowes, Muirhouse and Blackhall will now be part of Edinburgh Northern.
Slateford and Craiglockart now come under Edinburgh South Western, and Fairmilehead, Liberton and Gilmerton come under Edinburgh Southern.
Meanwhile in Glasgow, Thornwood will move to the Glasgow Anniesland constituency.
Shettleston, Baillieston, Barlanark and the East Centre council ward area will now be part of the new Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston seat.
Pollok, Newlands, Auldburn and Linn will now come under Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok, while Anderston, the city centre, Yorkhill, Calton and Govan will be part of the new Glasgow Central seat.
The new seat of Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn will cover the Germiston, Springburn, Sighthill, Possilpark, Parkhouse, Milton, Barmulloch, Robroyston, Dennistoun and Drygate areas.
Meanwhile the Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill seat will cover Claythorn, Hillhead, Hyndland, Dowanhill, Partick, Kelvindale, Maryhill, Ruchill, Lambill and Summerston.
Finally, Craigton and Langside will move to the Glasgow Southside constituency.
The changes are not quite so dramatic in other parts of the country.
In the north-east, New Pitsligo, Strichen, New Leeds and Fetterangus will move from Aberdeenshire East to Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
In the Lothians, Seafield will move from Almond Valley to Bathgate.
In the Highlands, Granton-on-Spey will move from Inverness and Nairn to Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
Across the central belt, the areas of Cornton, Causewayhead and Cambuskenneth will move from Stirling to Clackmannanshire and Dunblane.
The two Falkirk seats are being shaken up. Falkirk East and Linlithgow will now cover Linlithgow, Hallglen and Lionthorn, which Falkirk West will now take in Carron, Carronshore and Stenhousemuir.
Newtongrange will move to the Midlothian North seat.
Meanwhile in the west, Kilmalcolm and Quarriers Village will move to the new Inverclyde seat, and Stewarton and Dunlop will move to Cunninghame South.
The Paisley seat will now cover Gallowhill and Glasgow Airport, and the Phoenix Retail Park, Bridge of Weir, Houston and northern Crosslee will move to Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley.
The new seat of Renfrewshire North and Cardonald will now cover Cardonald.
The only regional boundary not changing in this election is Mid Scotland and Fife. There are some new names as well, including Central Scotland and Lothians West, and Edinburgh and Lothians East.
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