# The Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring provisions of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 (“the Act”) into force.
They bring section 4 of the Act into force, to enable local authorities to designate all or part of their areas as areas of linguistic significance, for the following local government areas on the dates specified—
Na h-Eileanan an Iar on 21 March 2026
Highland on 1 September 2026
Argyll and Bute on 1 September 2026
All other local government areas in Scotland on 1 January 2027
These Regulations also bring section 32(2), (3), (4), (6) and (7) of the Act into force, requiring the Scottish Ministers to take such action as they consider appropriate to support the development of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig as the national centre for Gaelic language, education and culture in Scotland, on 15 September 2026.
The Bill for the Act received Royal Assent on 31 July 2025. Section 48(1) of the Act brought into force Part 3 of the Act on the day after Royal Assent.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2026/128/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/scottish-languages-act-2025-commencement-no-2-regulations-2026/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.