2021 New South Wales mayoral elections

The 2021 New South Wales mayoral elections were held on 4 December 2021 to elect mayors or lord mayors to 35 of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales. The elections were held as part of the statewide local elections.

While most mayors in New South Wales are elected by councillors at meetings, several choose to have directly-elected (or popularly elected) mayors.

2017 referendums
At the 2017 local elections, three referendum questions were put to voters about directly-elected mayors.

When asked if they supported the introduction of a directly-elected mayor in 2024 71.9% voted "Yes" in Dungog and 70.1% voted "Yes" in Shellharbour. However, voters in North Sydney voted in favour of removing directly-elected mayoral elections. All changes came into effect in 2021.

Candidates
Incumbents at the time of the elections are highlighted in bold text.

Retiring mayors
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 * Gail Giles-Gidney − Willoughby, announced 2021
 * Bob Pynsent − Cessnock, announced 23 June 2021
 * Liz Innes − Eurobodalla, announced 29 June 2021
 * Denise Knight − Coffs Harbour, announced 17 July 2021
 * John Dal Broi − Griffith, announced 23 July 2021
 * David Wright − Ballina, announced 5 November 2021
 * Wendy Waller − Liverpool, announced 15 November 2021
 * Michael Pearce − Uralla, announced 15 November 2021
 * Reg Kid − Orange, announced 2021

Mayors changing hands
Mayors in italics did not recontest their positions.

Dungog

 * This was the first time the position of mayor of Dungog was directly-elected instead of appointed by councillors

Lismore

 * Incumbent mayor Isaac Smith resigned on 31 January 2021, with Vanessa Grindon-Ekins  serving the remainder of his term from 9 February 2021

Port Macquarie-Hastings

 * Results compared with 2017 Port Macquarie-Hastings mayoral by-election

Shellharbour

 * This was the first time the position of mayor of Shellharbour was directly-elected instead of appointed by councillors
 * Marianne Saliba was the incumbent mayor, having been re-elected on 22 September 2021

Wollondilly

 * This was the first time the position of mayor of Wollondilly was directly-elected instead of appointed by councillors
 * Robert Khan was the incumbent mayor, having been appointed on 16 September 2020