BBC Scotland has unveiled plans for extensive cross platform coverage of the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election, with a broad mix of television, radio and digital content designed to keep voters informed throughout the campaign.
The coverage will culminate on Friday the 8th of May, when BBC One Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland will run rolling daytime programming to report results as they are declared across the country.
Unlike previous elections, there will be no overnight declarations, with results instead expected to be announced progressively during the day following the poll on the 7th of May.
The main broadcast will be presented by Martin Geissler, alongside Laura Miller and Gary Robertson from Pacific Quay in Glasgow, with Rebecca Curran reporting from Holyrood.
Coverage will begin at around 9am on BBC One Scotland and will feature live declarations, interviews and reports from count centres across Scotland.
Additional updates will be provided through extended editions of Reporting Scotland, presented by Laura Goodwin.
The campaign itself will be supported by a range of programming, including a live leaders debate from Paisley Town Hall on Sunday the 12th of April, hosted by Stephen Jardine.
The Debate Night Leaders Special will bring together leaders from the main political parties, offering voters a direct opportunity to hear competing visions ahead of polling day.
Further Debate Night programmes will run during the campaign, including one focused on younger voters.
BBC Scotland News online will host a daily live page from the 7th of April, featuring rolling updates, analysis, interviews and explainers, alongside short form digital content and manifesto summaries shared across social platforms.
An interactive policy grid will also be available online, allowing users to compare where the main parties stand on key issues.
Radio coverage will include leader interviews on Radio Scotland Breakfast, followed by listener call ins on Mornings, giving audiences a chance to question those seeking election.
The BBC will also host a series of local hustings events across Scotland, providing constituency level debate on the issues that matter most to communities.
BBC Verify will contribute analysis and fact checking throughout the campaign, aiming to help audiences navigate political claims and competing narratives.
A cross platform project titled Your Voice will gather and reflect public opinion, ensuring audience concerns remain central to the coverage.
Scotcast will continue its series of leader interviews, while The Sunday Show will be extended to a full hour, focusing on the major issues shaping the election.
Dedicated Gaelic coverage will be provided across BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, BBC ALBA and online services, ensuring accessibility for Gaelic speaking audiences.
Howard Simpson, Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC Scotland, said the plans reflect a commitment to delivering trusted and comprehensive coverage.
“Our principal aim is to be led by the issues that matter most to our audiences,” he said.
“We’ve built a results service that’s fast, comprehensive, and accessible wherever people are.”
BBC Scotland is preparing to deliver wide ranging election coverage across television, radio and digital platforms as voters head towards the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election.
