St David’s Day 2026 Pilot Support Fund

Application deadline: midday on Friday 14th November 2025

The Aims of the pilot fund:
1. The Welsh Government is looking to maximise the opportunities and benefits
for celebrating St David’s Day in 2026 by supporting new and innovative
projects, activities and events in the lead up and on St David’s Day 2026 (16
February – 1 March 2026) in Wales which promote traditional and
contemporary Welsh culture such as music, art, literature, sport, food and the
Welsh language.

2. The Welsh Government’s objectives around the celebrations are:
• To support a programme of activity to strengthen Wales’s approach to
celebrating St David’s Day domestically.
• To Promote Welsh culture and heritage – Showcase traditional and
contemporary Welsh culture such as music, art, literature, sport, food
and the Welsh language.
• Engage All Communities Across Wales – Encourage participation
from local councils, community groups, and schools. Support inclusive
events which build awareness of shared Welsh identity and values,
reflecting the diversity of modern Wales.
• Support Welsh Creatives and Businesses – Provide platforms for
Welsh artists, performers, and makers to exhibit their work. Promote
local businesses through themed markets or partnerships, increasing
footfall in areas with activity, supporting events that will have a positive
impact on local businesses e.g. hospitality, music venues.
• Increase Visibility Nationally – Use digital media and platforms to
strengthen Wales’s online approach to celebrating St David’s Day,
showcasing stories from traditional and contemporary Welsh culture as
well as sharing events and activities for the celebrations

3. Whilst many organisations, in Wales and globally, will look to support their
own range of activities to celebrate our national day, the Welsh Government is
establishing a fund that aims to add value to a small number of new
exceptional projects that can deliver on our core objectives.

4. Total revenue funding of up to £750,000 is being made available for this Pilot
Support Fund. Organisations may bid for a maximum of £5,000, £20,000 or
£40,000 to deliver a project, activity or event.

5. Applications must represent good value for money which will form part of the
assessment. We do not expect applicants to request the maximum unless the
need is clearly demonstrated in their application.

6. Applications will be assessed against value for money, potential to generate a
significant impact in line with our objectives and the ability to deliver activities
effectively within a short period of time.

7. We encourage applications submitted through collaboration or partnership
arrangements. If an unincorporated organisation or constituted group is
working in partnership with a fully constituted organisation, the application
must be submitted by the constituted organisation, which will act on behalf of
the partnership.

8. Projects that benefit a single organisation or business are not eligible. The
purpose of the grant is to support initiatives that deliver wider community
benefits. Applications must demonstrate how the proposed project will have a
positive impact beyond the interests of a single entity. Projects that solely
enhance the operations, profitability, or visibility of one organisation or
business will not be considered.

Who can apply:
9. All applicants must:
• Be based and operating in Wales.
• Be from eligible organisations able to deliver on a local, regional or pan
Wales basis.
• For public facing activities, events and workshops – Applicants must
have:
o proven track record in delivering local, regional or national public
events
o provide evidence of past experience to demonstrate the ability to
organise and deliver projects such as a post-event report
including photos, videos and audience feedback and have clear
governance, safeguarding, inclusion, and equality policies in
place.
• For digital development related projects – Applicants must have a
proven track record in developing relevant online content / assets and
provide evidence such as links to previous projects.

10.Applications are open to legally constituted local, regional and national
organisations and community groups, including but not limited to:
• Legally constituted group
• Registered charity
• Community Interest Company / Social enterprise
• Charitable Incorporated Organisation
• Community Council
• Town Council
• Regional organisations, local authorities and cultural institutions,
• Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies
• National organisations

11.This fund is not intended to support Local Authorities in the main but local,
regional and national organisations which can work alongside and in
partnership with the relevant authorities.
How much can you apply for?

12.Applicants can request between £1,000 and £40,000. Application requests
below or over this guideline threshold may be considered. The fund is split
into three levels for funding:

Small grants – Applicant Eligibility Criteria

13.You can apply for a small grant from £1000 to £5000 for your organisation to
deliver a St David’s Day celebration project, event or activity at a local or
neighbourhood level

Medium grants – Applicant Eligibility Criteria

14.You can apply for a small grant from £5000 £20000 for your organisation to
deliver a St David’s Day celebration project, event or activity which will have a
regional or multi-community impact.

Large grants – Applicant Eligibility Criteria

15.Applications for up to £40,000 are open to national organisations based in
Wales with proven experience of delivering traditional and contemporary
Welsh culture such as music, art, literature, sport, food and the Welsh
language
The funding allocation is divided into regional and sectoral pots in order to
ensure a wide geographical spread of projects and sectors involved.

What projects are we looking to support?

16.The application for funding must be related to the development and running of
projects, activities or events that will maximise the opportunities and benefits
for celebrating St David’s Day in). This can include but is not limited to:
• Physical indoor / outdoor events, celebrations, performances, such as;
twmpaths, parades, music, language and artistic performances in
hospitality/music venues.
• Workshops, sports activities, markets and food-based events led by
community, local, regional and national bodies, to showcase St David’s
Day celebrations.
• Welsh language focused activities and events and opportunities for Welsh
learners.
• Projects that use digital media and online platforms to develop digital
content to share stories of traditional and contemporary Welsh culture
such as music, art, literature, sport, food and the Welsh language in order
to promote St David’s Day.

Project eligibility

17.The project must have a clear start date and an end date and fixed
deliverables. Physical in person activities/ events must be held in Wales
between 16 February – 6 March 2026. Digital projects must be completed
and ready for launch by no later than 16 February.
18.Public events must take the Welsh language into consideration and ensure
that it is treated no less favourably than English.
19.Projects should demonstrate an inclusive approach and seek to improve
equality and diversity.
20.Examples of costs the Fund could cover are:
• Costs involved in running the project and/or payment of participants,
organisers, freelancer or volunteer costs.
• Costs of premises hire, equipment hire, transport, and expenses for
those involved in the project.
• Event related costs and insurance.
• Costs of materials used in the project including promotional materials
• Other marketing and promotional costs
• Translation costs for both content development and during events,
workshops and other public facing activities
• Speaker fees
• Trainer fees
• Office/administration costs

For further guidance, and to apply, see website here: https://www.gov.wales/st-davids-day-2026-pilot-support-fund