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The Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026

S.S.I. 2026/128 · Made 5 March 2026

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

SCOTTISH LANGUAGES

Made 5th March 2026

Laid before the Scottish Parliament 9th March 2026

Coming into force 21st March 2026

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 48(2) and (3) of the Scottish Languages Act 2025f1 and all other powers enabling them to do so.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2025 asp 10.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and interpretation
  2. 2Appointed days: section 4 of the Act
  3. 3Appointed day: section 32 of the Act
  4. Signature
  5. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and interpretation

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Scottish Languages Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 21 March 2026.

(2)

In these Regulations, “the Act” means the Scottish Languages Act 2025.

2Appointed days: section 4 of the Act

(1)

21 March 2026 is the day appointed for the coming into force of section 4 of the Act, for the local government area of Na h-Eileanan an Iarf1.

(2)

1 September 2026 is the day appointed for the coming into force of section 4 of the Act, for the local government areas of Highland and Argyll and Bute.

(3)

Subject to paragraphs (1) and (2), 1 January 2027 is the day appointed for the coming into force of section 4 of the Act, for all other local government areas specified in column 1 of Part I of schedule 1 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994f2.

3Appointed day: section 32 of the Act

15 September 2026 is the day appointed for the coming into force of section 32(2), (3), (4), (6) and (7) of the Act.

Signature

KATE FORBES

A member of the Scottish Government

St Andrew's House,

Edinburgh

5th March 2026

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.