2026 No. 128 (C. 15)
SCOTTISH LANGUAGES

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

Made
Laid before the Scottish Parliament
Coming into force
The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 48(2) and (3) of the Scottish Languages Act 20251 and all other powers enabling them to do so.

Citation, commencement and interpretation1.

(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.

Appointed days: section 4 of the Act2.

(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 Iar2.

(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 19943.

Appointed day: section 32 of the Act3.

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

KATE FORBES
A member of the Scottish Government

St Andrew's House,

Edinburgh

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.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 have been brought into force by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations.

Provision

Date of Commencement

S.S.I. No.

Sections 1, 2, 7, 9(1), 9(2)(c), 9(6), 10 to 16, 18 to 20, 23, 26, 27, 31, 32(1), 32(5), 32(8), 33, 37 to 39, 41 and 46. Sections 9(2)(a), 9(2)(b) and 17 (for limited purposes).

30 November 2025

S.S.I. 2025/348