Wales’s next Budget: Making the case for Sport
The decisions made in the next Welsh Government Budget will have a direct impact on the future of sport and physical activity in Wales and there is an important opportunity for our sector to help shape the discussion.
The Senedd Finance Committee has opened its consultation ahead of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget, which is due to be published on 17 November 2026, followed by the Final Budget on 16 February 2027.
So why does this matter?
The Budget is where political priorities are translated into spending decisions. It determines where Welsh Government funding goes, what gets prioritised and, ultimately, what can be delivered for people and communities across Wales.
For sport and physical activity, this comes at an important moment. The sector continues to operate under significant financial pressure following years of constrained funding, while making a contribution far beyond participation alone – to physical and mental health, prevention, stronger communities, the economy and wider public services.
There is also a changing political context. Plaid Cymru’s 2026 manifesto included a commitment to increase funding for culture and sport year-on-year during this Senedd term, alongside proposals to invest in sport and physical activity as part of preventative health.
The next Budget will therefore be an early opportunity to see how those ambitions translate into funding decisions.
Crucially, the Finance Committee is asking some of the questions our sector should be helping to answer: What are the biggest financial pressures facing organisations? How should funding be linked to outcomes? What investment could support economic growth? And should more of the Budget be directed towards preventative activity that can reduce future demand on public services?
Sport has a strong story to tell on each.
This is an opportunity for clubs, governing bodies and organisations across the sector to provide evidence of the pressures they face, but also to demonstrate the return that investment in sport and physical activity can deliver for Wales.
If we want sport to feature strongly in the Budget conversation, the sector needs to be part of that conversation.
The deadline for submitting evidence to the Senedd Finance Committee is Friday 25 September 2026.
Further information on the Draft Budget Consultation can be found here.
We encourage organisations across the sport and physical activity sector to feed into the consultation. Responses don’t need to be lengthy – a few clear points on the pressures you are facing, your priorities and where investment could make the greatest difference will help give the Committee a strong picture of the sector’s needs.
If you would like support with your response or want to discuss the issues you might raise, please get in touch with the WSA team.
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