St David’s Day 2026: Pilot Support Fund

Wales is preparing to celebrate St David’s Day 2026 in a bigger and more inclusive way than ever before. To support this, the Welsh Government has launched a Pilot Support Fund aimed at helping communities, creatives, and organisations bring their ideas to life.

Applications are now open and will close at midday on 14 November 2025. Successful projects will take place between 16 February and 6 March 2026, aligning with the national celebration period.

What’s the Fund About?

This fund is designed to support events and activities that showcase the richness of Welsh culture—both traditional and contemporary. Whether it’s music, art, sport, food, or the Welsh language, the goal is to bring people together and celebrate what makes Wales unique.

The fund also aims to increase visibility of Welsh culture through digital platforms, support local businesses and creatives, and strengthen the way Wales marks St David’s Day in the future.

Who Can Apply?

If you're part of an organisation based and operating in Wales—such as a charity, CIC, town or community council, cultural institution, or community group—you’re eligible to apply. The fund is open to both local and national initiatives, with different levels of funding available depending on the scale of your project.

Funding Levels

There are three tiers of funding:

• Small grants between £1,000 and £5,000 for local, neighbourhood-based projects.

• Medium grants from £5,000 to £20,000 for regional or multi-community initiatives.

• Large grants up to £40,000 for national-scale projects.

What Kind of Projects Are Supported?

The fund welcomes a wide range of ideas—from parades and performances to workshops, food markets, and digital content that promotes Welsh culture. Activities that encourage the use and learning of the Welsh language are especially encouraged.

However, it’s important to note that the fund does not cover capital purchases, core staff costs (except for third sector organisations), or projects unrelated to St David’s Day 2026.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically further information, link to the fund and support in making an application can be obtained from your local development officer by completing the form below.

What Will Make Your Application Stand Out?

Projects will be assessed based on how well they align with the fund’s objectives, their quality and community impact, the strength of the delivery plan, and overall value for money. Sustainability and risk management are also key considerations.

Commitment to the Welsh Language

All funded projects must treat Welsh no less favourably than English and support the Cymraeg 2050 vision of reaching one million Welsh speakers.

Complete the form below to find out more about the grant and have support from your local development officer