# Attendance and Engagement at UK Sporting, Cultural and Heritage Sites

**Funder:** AHRC
**Budget:** Up to £1.32 million FEC (AHRC and DCMS fund 80% of FEC)
**Deadline:** 1 December 2026 (16:00 UK time)
**Duration:** Up to 34 months
**Consortium:** Optional — project co-leads and project partners (incl. business/third sector and DCMS stakeholders) are encouraged but not mandatory; international co-leads not eligible
**Application:** Single stage
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/attendance-and-engagement-at-uk-sporting-cultural-and-heritage-sites/
**Last updated:** 23 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

UKRI/AHRC in partnership with DCMS seeks interdisciplinary research to develop deployable models measuring attendance and engagement at unticketed UK sporting, cultural and heritage events. Applicants must be UK-based; international co-leads and PhD studentships are not eligible; project must start by 1 May 2027.

## Summary

This AHRC call, run jointly with DCMS, funds up to £1.32 million (80% FEC) for interdisciplinary research developing deployable models to measure attendance and engagement at unticketed UK sporting, cultural and heritage events. It is a one-off, single-stage call open to UK-based teams only, with international co-leads and PhD studentships excluded. Projects can run up to 34 months and must start by 1 May 2027.

## Who should apply

- UK-based researchers and institutions (international co-leads not eligible)
- Interdisciplinary teams spanning research methods, culture, heritage or sport
- Projects aiming to produce practical, deployable measurement tools rather than pure theory
- Teams open to involving business, third-sector or DCMS partners, though not required

## Key dates

- Deadline: 1 December 2026, 16:00 UK time
- Single-stage application
- Project must start by 1 May 2027; duration up to 34 months

## Tips for applicants

- Since co-leads and partners are optional but encouraged, involving a DCMS stakeholder or sector partner likely strengthens the case for deployability.
- Focus the proposal on producing a measurement model that is genuinely deployable at unticketed venues, not just an academic study of attendance patterns.
- Because this is a one-off, single-stage call with no resubmission cycle, budget extra time for a full FEC costing exercise before the 1 December 2026 deadline.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding is available for the AHRC Attendance and Engagement at UK Sporting, Cultural and Heritage Sites call?

Up to £1.32 million full economic cost, with AHRC and DCMS jointly funding 80% of FEC.

### Who can apply for this AHRC-DCMS grant?

UK-based researchers and institutions; international co-leads and PhD studentships are not eligible.

### Is a consortium required for this call?

No, project co-leads and partners including business, third-sector or DCMS stakeholders are encouraged but not mandatory.

### What is the deadline for this AHRC call?

The deadline is 1 December 2026 at 16:00 UK time, and funded projects must start by 1 May 2027.

### How long can funded projects run?

Projects can run for up to 34 months.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/ahrc-attendance-and-engagement-at-uk-sporting-cultural--2026-12) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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