# Long-term Cultural and Sporting Events Legacy

**Funder:** AHRC
**Budget:** Up to £1.32M (80% FEC funded by AHRC and DCMS)
**Deadline:** 1 December 2026 (16:00 UK time)
**Duration:** Up to 34 months
**Consortium:** Optional — project co-leads permitted and encouraged for interdisciplinary applications; international co-leads not eligible
**Application:** Single stage
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/long-term-cultural-and-sporting-events-legacy/
**Last updated:** 23 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

UKRI/AHRC funding opportunity with DCMS to research long-term legacy and impact of major UK sporting or cultural events (e.g. Tour de France Grand Départ 2027), using quantitative/qualitative methods aligned with Green Book/Magenta Book principles. Applicants must be UK-based; project studentships and international co-leads are not funded.

## Summary

This AHRC call, run jointly with DCMS, funds research into the long-term legacy and impact of major UK sporting or cultural events, such as the Tour de France Grand Départ 2027, with up to £1.32M available at 80% FEC. It targets UK-based researchers using quantitative and qualitative methods aligned with Green Book/Magenta Book evaluation principles, and is a one-off call rather than a recurring programme.

## Who should apply

- Researchers based at UK institutions
- Teams studying cultural policy, sport, or event evaluation
- Applicants able to apply Green Book/Magenta Book evaluation methods
- Interdisciplinary project co-leads based in the UK (international co-leads not eligible)

## Key dates

- Deadline: 1 December 2026, 16:00 UK time
- Single-stage application
- Project duration up to 34 months

## Tips for applicants

- Frame the evaluation design explicitly around Green Book/Magenta Book principles, since DCMS co-funds this call and expects policy-relevant methodology.
- Use the optional co-lead structure to strengthen interdisciplinary teams, but keep all co-leads UK-based since international co-leads are excluded.
- Since this is a one-off call, budget planning against the £1.32M ceiling and 80% FEC rate should be worked out early rather than assuming a future round.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding is available for the AHRC Long-term Cultural and Sporting Events Legacy call?

Up to £1.32 million is available, funded at 80% FEC jointly by AHRC and DCMS.

### Who is eligible to apply for this AHRC-DCMS legacy research call?

Applicants must be based at UK institutions; project studentships and international co-leads are not funded.

### Is this AHRC call recurring?

No, it is a one-off funding opportunity rather than an annual programme.

### How long can funded projects run under this call?

Projects can run for up to 34 months.

### Can I apply with a co-lead on this AHRC call?

Yes, co-leads are optional and encouraged for interdisciplinary applications, but international co-leads are not eligible.

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

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