Elections to Manchester Council were held on Thursday, 3 May 1979, on the same day as the 1979 UK general election.
One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office, expiring in 1982, due to the boundary changes and "all-out" elections due to take place that year.
The Labour Party retained overall control of the council.
[1] After the election, the composition of the council was as follows: