The incumbent is Tom Wootton of the Conservative Party, elected in May 2023.
Prior to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1835, the Mayor of Bedford came into office on 29 September.
Bedford held a referendum on 21 February 2002 on whether to introduce a directly elected mayor after a petition was signed by at least 5% of the electorate.
A by-election took place on 15 October 2009 after the death of the previous incumbent, Frank Branston in August 2009.
[13] The result was declared on the night of 5 May, with Wootton defeating Hodgson by 145 votes.