Culture and Sport Legislation
Legislative framework governing cultural institutions, media broadcasting, sports regulation, arts funding, and heritage protection.
The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made on April 29, 2026, bring into force specific provisions of the Football Governance Act 2025 starting on May 5, 2026.
The commencement order initiates key sections related to the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) determining the suitability of club owners and officers, imposes new duties on clubs and competition organisers regarding ground disposal and administration approvals, and activates certain investigatory powers and schedule items concerning relevant infringements.
The Major Sporting Events (Income Tax Exemption) (Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, enacted by HM Treasury under the Finance Act 2014, establish an income tax exemption for individuals accredited by the organizer of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games for income earned while performing activities connected with the Games between July 16th and August 4th, 2026, provided the individual meets specific non-UK residence criteria for the relevant tax year or period.
The Grants to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State with Treasury approval, sets the framework for financial support to the Churches Conservation Trust in England and Wales for the period beginning 1st April 2026 and ending 31st March 2029, specifying that the total aggregate grants paid under the Redundant Churches and other Religious Buildings Act 1969 during this time must not exceed £9,531,000, and it simultaneously revokes the preceding 2025 Order.
The Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, the Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2026, amends earlier 2006 commencement and transitional provisions relating to the Gambling Act 2005, specifically targeting paragraph 65 of Schedule 4.
Its primary function is to clarify the gaming machine entitlements authorised by casino premises licences granted on a conversion application, ensuring that the options described are mutually exclusive, meaning an operator may only exercise one of the specified entitlements at any time.
The Broadcasting Act 1990 (Independent Radio Services Exception) Order 2026
This 2026 Statutory Instrument, made under the Broadcasting Act 1990, amends the rules governing independent radio broadcasting by explicitly exempting certain radio services from the general requirement to hold a license.
Specifically, the Order exempts 'restricted services' if they broadcast on frequencies outside the standard AM or FM bands, or if they broadcast on FM frequencies using apparatus emitting extremely low power, not exceeding 50 nanowatts.
Furthermore, the instrument revokes the predecessor exception orders from 1990 and 2007, consolidating the current exceptions framework.
The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026
These UK Statutory Instrument Regulations officially bring the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 into force across England and Wales on March 22, 2026, by exercising powers granted under Section 2(2) of that Act; this commencement action activates the Act in its entirety, which amends the Football (Offences) Act 1991 by inserting a new offence concerning the unauthorised entry into designated football matches.
The Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State under the Enterprise Act 2002, prevents the parties involved in the proposed acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited by Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) from taking 'pre-emptive action' while a public interest intervention notice remains in force; the Order mandates that the Telegraph Media Group Holdings business must be carried on separately, maintaining its operational status, editorial independence, key staff, and market position until the review period concludes.
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend Part 1A of Schedule 6B to the Enterprise Act 2002, establishing specific conditions under which a foreign power that controls or influences a newspaper owner via a state-owned investor is exempt from merger control prohibitions.
The amendments replace previous conditions by requiring state-owned investors holding directly between 5% and 15% of shares or voting rights in a newspaper owner to issue a qualifying notification to the Secretary of State and publish specified information online within 14 days of acquisition to qualify for the exception, while also limiting the total aggregate holding by state-owned investors across all foreign powers to 15%.