1973 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election

The first elections to Trafford Council were held on Thursday, 10 May 1973. This was a new council created to replace the following authorities: the Municipal Borough of Altrincham, the Municipal Borough of Sale, the Municipal Borough of Stretford, Bowdon Urban District, Hale Urban District, Urmston Urban District, and parts of Bucklow Rural District. This election would create the entire 63-member council (3 councillors to each ward), which would shadow its predecessor councils before taking over their functions on 1 April 1974, as specified in the Local Government Act 1972. Each 1st-placed candidate would serve a five-year term of office, expiring in 1978. Each 2nd-placed candidate would serve a three-year term of office, expiring in 1976. Each 3rd-placed candidate would serve a two-year term of office, expiring in 1975.

The Conservative Party won overall control of the council.

Previous elections
The last elections to take place in Trafford's predecessor councils occurred in the first week of May 1972.

Thursday, 4 May 1972.
 * 1972 Altrincham Municipal Borough Council election
 * 1972 Sale Municipal Borough Council election
 * 1972 Stretford Municipal Borough Council election
 * 1972 Urmston Urban District Council election

Saturday, 6 May 1972.
 * 1972 Bowdon Urban District Council election
 * 1972 Hale Urban District Council election