1981 Belfast City Council election

Main article: Northern Ireland local elections, 1981
1981 Belfast City Council election
← 1977 20 May 1981 1985 →
All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party DUP UUP Alliance
Seats won 15 13 7
Seat change Increase 8 Decrease 2 Decrease 6
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party SDLP People's Democracy Irish Republican Socialist
Seats won 6 2 2
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 2 Increase 2
  Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party
 
Party PUP Ulster Democratic Unionist Party NI
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Increase 1 Increase 1 Decrease 1
Lord Mayor before election

John Carson
UUP

Lord Mayor

Grace Bannister
UUP

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 20 May 1981 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used nine district electoral areas to elect a total of 51 councillors, most representing the more heavily populated north and west.

The DUP became the largest party, overtaking the UUP, while Grace Bannister from the UUP became the first female Lord Mayor.