| Election Name: | 1986 Exeter City Council election |
| Country: | Devon |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 1984 Exeter City Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1984 |
| Next Election: | 1987 Exeter City Council election |
| Next Year: | 1987 |
| Seats For Election: | 12 out of 36 seats to Exeter City Council |
| Majority Seats: | 19 |
| Party1: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 14 seats, 27.0% |
| Seats1: | 6 |
| Seats After1: | 15 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 8,673 |
| Percentage1: | 35.3% |
| Swing1: | 8.3 pp |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election2: | 16 seats, 43.2% |
| Seats2: | 5 |
| Seats After2: | 14 |
| Seat Change2: | 2 |
| Popular Vote2: | 8,715 |
| Percentage2: | 35.4% |
| Swing2: | 7.8 pp |
| Party4: | SDP-Liberal Alliance |
| Last Election4: | 5 seats, 28.7% |
| Seats4: | 1 |
| Seats After4: | 6 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Popular Vote4: | 6,391 |
| Percentage4: | 26.0% |
| Swing4: | 2.7 pp |
| Party5: | Independent politician |
| Last Election5: | 0 seats, 0.0% |
| Seats5: | 0 |
| Seats After5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 475 |
| Percentage5: | 1.9% |
| Swing5: | N/A |
| Council control | |
| Posttitle: | Council control after election |
| Before Party: | No overall control |
| After Party: | No overall control |
The 1986 Exeter City Council election took place on 8 May 1986 to elect members of Exeter City Council in Devon, England.[1] This was on the same day as other local elections.