Culture and Sport Legislation
Legislative framework governing cultural institutions, media broadcasting, sports regulation, arts funding, and heritage protection.
The Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2026
The instrument amended earlier provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 commencement order to clarify that gaming machine entitlements under converted casino premises licences are alternative, singular options rather than cumulative choices.
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
The Order specifies exceptions to the independent radio service licensing requirement under the Broadcasting Act 1990, detailing conditions for restricted services operating on non-standard frequencies or ultra-low power, and simultaneously revoked two previous exception orders.
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
The Regulations activated the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026, establishing the new offence of unauthorised entry to designated football matches starting March 22, 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
The Secretary of State imposed a temporary prohibition on pre-emptive actions by DMGT and associated entities concerning the acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings to preserve the status quo pending a public interest review.
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
The Regulations amended Schedule 6B of the Enterprise Act 2002 to impose notification and publication duties on state-owned investors acquiring stakes in newspaper owners, effective in stages from March 13, 2024, for amendment purposes and January 31, 2026, for key operational provisions.
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%.
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Treasury substituted the Schedule of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025 with a revised list of designated bodies affecting supply estimates for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.
This Order, made by HM Treasury under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000, revises the list of designated central government bodies for the purpose of calculating supply estimates and resource accounts for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.
Specifically, it substitutes the entire Schedule of the principal Order (The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025) with an updated list organized by government department, adding, renaming, or removing various public sector bodies.
The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Regulations appointed 12th December 2025 as the commencement date for specified provisions in Parts 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Football Governance Act 2025.
These Regulations officially bring into force the second set of provisions from the Football Governance Act 2025, appointing 12th December 2025 as the commencement date for many sections.
The commencement targets key areas including the suitability requirements for incumbent club owners and officers (Part 4), the investigatory powers granted to the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) (Part 7), the enforcement sanctions framework (Part 8), and the review and appeals processes (Part 9).
Certain aspects of these parts, particularly those relating to operating licences, are explicitly excluded from this commencement order.
The Public Record Office (Fees) Regulations 2025
The regulations prescribed new fees for Public Record Office services, revoked the 2018 Regulations, and introduced specific charges for accessing certain military service personnel records.
The Public Record Office (Fees) Regulations 2025 set out the new fees chargeable by the Keeper of Public Records for providing authenticated copies, extracts, and other services related to records held at The National Archives, effective from February 2nd, 2026.
These regulations supersede the 2018 Regulations, increasing many existing fees and introducing specific new charges related to accessing 'key military service personnel documents' transferred from the Ministry of Defence, while also granting the Keeper powers to remit fees in certain circumstances, such as when no relevant records are found.