Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund
With the excitement building towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow Life is proud to be working with the organisers to develop and deliver the Glasgow 2026 Games Festival.
The Games Festival has been designed to complement the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, activating the city through culture and sport.
As one of four programming strands, the Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund has been created with £250,000 available to support the creation a citywide programme that is embedded within communities. It will be led and delivered by community and voluntary groups, arts and cultural organisations, Community Sport Hubs and sports clubs, social enterprises and creative industries.
The Fund seeks to showcase Glasgow’s cultural, sporting and community strengths in alignment with the vision and values of the Commonwealth Games, creating a vibrant and inclusive experience for residents and visitors during summer 2026.
We are inviting applications from organisations for grants of up to £10,000 to support a range of projects including Arts, Sports and Well-Being activities. Projects should reflect one or more of the Games Festival themes - Gathering, Social Justice and Celebration - bringing them to life through engagement and participation.
What we are offering
We have a three-tiered approach to funding – from £300-£1,000, up to £5,000 and up to £10,000. Glasgow Life reserves the right to award an uplift of £5,000 to an exceptional application.
Projects and events must take place in Glasgow between 23 May - 9 August 2026.
Applicants should show how this funding will bring communities together, ensuring everyone can be part of the celebrations, contributing to the city’s image and adding to the experience of visiting Glasgow
Application Form
Download, complete and return the official Application Form.
Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund Official Application Form
Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund Guidelines
To help with your application, download a copy of the Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund Guidelines.
Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund GuidelinesFAQs
Community and Voluntary Groups, Artists and Cultural Organisations, Sports Clubs and Hubs, Social Enterprises and Creative Industries.
Download and complete the official Application Form.
Applications should be submitted by email to glasgow2026festivalfund@glasgowlife.org.uk by 5.00pm Tuesday 20 January 2026.
The subject title of the email should be Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund Application.
When submitting your application, please ensure that you send it as an email attachment rather than via a web hosting service.
Glasgow Life cannot accept any application sent by post.
Incomplete applications will be deemed as ineligible and will not be assessed.
It is advised that applicants keep a copy of their application on file.
You can include a maximum of three (3) other documents to support your application e.g. images, letters of support, etc.
You can apply for a maximum £10,000.
It is anticipated that demand will exceed the budget available.
Applicants are encouraged to request the appropriate sum required and not to automatically apply for the maximum amount.
The deadline for receipt of applications is Tuesday 20 January 2026 at 5.00pm. We are unable to accept late applications.
Your application will be acknowledged within five (5) working days. If you do not receive an email acknowledgment, you must email: glasgow2026festivalfund@glasgowlife.org.uk
We are scheduled to have made our recommendations and have them approved week commencing Monday 9 March 2026.
We'll be in touch if there are any changes to this timetable.
If you would like to discuss your application with a member of the Festival team prior to submission, please email: glasgow2026festivalfund@glasgowlife.org.uk
Please email glasgow2026festivalfund@glasgowlife.org.uk and a member of the Festival team will contact you to discuss further.
No, applications can’t be considered for activities that have already started.
All, or the majority of, funding is to support activities that benefit Glasgow's communities. If there is an element of the activity that takes place out with the Glasgow city boundary, it would need to be clearly specified in terms of reasoning and % of budget.
Capital equipment (computers, staging, lighting etc) and building development are not eligible for funding.
The Glasgow 2026 Festival is being developed and delivered by Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow 2026, the organising company for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Glasgow Life is responsible for managing and monitoring awards for this funding programme.
You can download, complete and return the official Application Form below.
To help with your application, download a copy of the Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund Guidelines below.