Connections Through Culture Grants 2026

Benefits & funding

• The 2026 round planned approximately £1.4 million in grants for international cultural collaboration.
• Country caps were £15,000 for Argentina, Bangladesh, Colombia, Pakistan, Peru and Saudi Arabia; £10,000 for Mainland China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and the Western Balkans.
• Other caps were £9,000 for Egypt, £8,000 for Mexico, £7,500 for Kenya, £6,500 for South Africa, and £5,000 for Australia, New Zealand and Tanzania.
• Each grant covered the full partnership activity; 80% was scheduled after contracting and due diligence, with the final 20% payable after approval of the final report.

Eligibility

• Every application had to include at least one partner legally based in the United Kingdom and a separate partner legally based in an eligible participating country throughout the application and project period.
• Eligible participating countries were Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Colombia, Mainland China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
• Eligibility depended on where partners were legally based and able to receive and manage funding, not on nationality or citizenship.
• Artists, creative practitioners, cultural professionals, arts and cultural organisations, festivals, biennials, hubs, networks and collectives could apply, subject to local legal, tax and registration rules.
• Organisations serving as the two core partners had to be separate legal entities; funding bodies were ineligible, and certain visual arts or architecture, design, fashion and craft festival or showcase projects had to be led by an organisation, festival or biennial.
• No degree, work-experience or general age threshold was stated; higher-education students could apply as individuals only if aged 18 or over and legally able to manage the grant.
• Projects had to focus primarily on arts, culture or the creative sectors, demonstrate meaningful collaboration, fit the delivery period and be submitted in English.

Application process

1. 1
   Identify one eligible UK partner and one separate eligible participating-country partner, then confirm each partner’s legal, tax and funding-receipt status.
2. 2
   Agree the lead partner, roles, decision-making, budget split and delivery plan, and complete the required Partnership Letter of Intent.
3. 3
   Prepare the project narrative, partner information, timeline, GBP budget with contingency, risk plan and any relevant CVs, portfolios, permissions or venue confirmations.
4. 4
   During an open round, create a free Good Grants account from the programme page and fully submit the English application before the deadline; drafts and incomplete submissions are not considered.

Program timeline

1. Applications opened at 12:00 BST.

   Jun 17, 2026

2. Applications closed at 23:59 BST.

   Aug 12, 2026

3. Eligibility checks and main assessment.

   August–September 2026

4. Provisional decisions communicated.

   From Oct 14, 2026

5. Grant agreements and grantee onboarding.

   November 2026

6. Eligible project delivery period begins.

   Dec 1, 2026

7. Funded project activity must end.

   Dec 31, 2027

8. Latest final reporting date.

   Jan 31, 2028