Committee publication · Estimate memoranda · 20 May 2025
Department for Culture, Media and Sport Main Estimate 2025-26 Memorandum
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: The work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Summary
This Main Estimate memorandum details the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's spending plans for 2025-26, totalling £7.6 billion across resource and capital budgets. It breaks down allocations to museums, arts, sports, broadcasting and civil society, noting a 5.1% decrease in Resource DEL compared to the 2024-25 Supplementary Estimate, driven by Museum Freedoms Scheme adjustments and Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund completion, partially offset by funding uplifts and new programmes including Creative Foundations and National Theatre investment.
Key findings
- Resource DEL of £1,732.7m is 5.1% lower than 2024-25 Supplementary Estimate, primarily due to £79m reduction in Museums Freedoms Scheme reserves and £51.7m Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund completion
- Capital DEL of £752.7m increases 3.7% with major new investments: £75m Creative Foundations Fund, £24m British Museum Energy Centre, £23m Natural History Museum Unlocked, £20.7m National Theatre
- Resource AME (BBC and Channel 4) decreases £215.6m (-4.7%) driven by revised spending forecasts and changed borrowing assumptions
- Civil Society budget halves (£51.6m reduction) with closure of National Citizen Service and wind-down of time-limited programmes; Youth Investment Fund peaks in 2024-25 with £89.8m reduction in 2025-26
- Administration costs increase £8.5m (3.7%) reflecting new responsibilities including Independent Football Regulator establishment and new capital programmes
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Arts Council England, British Museum, Natural History Museum, National Theatre, British Library, UK Sport, BBC
Notable line
“The department champions sport for all at every level, supports our world-leading cultural and creative industries, and enhances the cohesiveness of our communities.”
Key Quotes
“The Department for Culture, Media and Sport supports culture, arts, media, sport, tourism and civil society across every part of England — recognising the UK's world-leading position in these areas”
“A reduction relating to an additional £79.0m provided at the 2024-25 Supplementary Estimate allowing museums to utilise historic reserves under the Freedoms Scheme.”
“This is mostly driven by a £51.7m reduction relating to funding provided for the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund which completed in 2024-25 following a two year programme.”
“Total funding for 25-26 DCMS Youth Programmes following NCS closure is not yet finalised and will be announced in due course.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗