The mayor of Bari is an elected politician who, along with the Bari's city council, is accountable for the strategic government of Bari in Apulia, Italy, the biggest city of the region.

The current mayor is Vito Leccese from the Democratic Party, who took office on 9 July 2024.

According to the Italian Constitution, the mayor of Bari is member of the city council.

The mayor is elected by the population of Bari, who also elects the members of the city council, controlling the mayor's policy guidelines and is able to enforce his resignation by a motion of no confidence. The mayor is entitled to appoint and release the members of his government.

Since 1995 the mayor is elected directly by Bari's electorate: in all mayoral elections in Italy in cities with a population higher than 15,000 the voters express a direct choice for the mayor or an indirect choice voting for the party of the candidate's coalition. If no candidate receives at least 50% of votes, the top two candidates go to a second round after two weeks. The election of the city council is based on a direct choice for the candidate with a preference vote: the candidate with the majority of the preferences is elected. The number of the seats for each party is determined proportionally.

From 1946 to 1995, the Mayor of Bari was elected by the City Council.

Since 1995, under provisions of new local administration law, the Mayor of Bari is chosen by direct election, originally every four, and later every five years.