The 1986 Newham London Borough Council election for the Newham London Borough Council was held on 8 May 1986. The whole council was up for election. Turnout was 30.7%. Labour, for the first time, won all 60 seats.
A total of 184 candidates stood in the election for the 60 seats being contested across 24 wards. Candidates included a full slate from the Labour party, whilst the Conservative party stood 51 candidates. The Liberal and SDP parties ran 37 joint candidates whilst the Liberal party also ran 11 candidates under the Liberal Alliance Focus Team banner. Other candidates included 12 Independents, 8 Green, 1 Communist, 2 Revolutionary Communist and 2 National Front.