A Bill to make provision for enabling a common set of legislative provisions to be applied to major sporting events held in the United Kingdom; to confer power to provide financial assistance in relation to sporting events held in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.
House of Lords
14 May 2026
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Sporting Events Bill [HL] would create a single UK-wide framework to regulate major sporting events by applying five control areas—ticket touting, advertising, trading, unauthorised association and transport. It allows regulations to designate qualifying events, grant authorisations, set enforcement powers and penalties (including fixed penalties), and provide financial support for delivery and legacy. The framework would cover England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with devolved consent processes and a mix of decision procedures for applying the rules.
The bill has reached the Lords' second reading after being introduced and published on 14 May 2026; the official documents outline the framework and intended scope. There are no published amendments or committee recommendations in the provided materials.
Generated 15 May 2026
14 May 2026
3 Jun 2026
First reading took place on 14 May. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the bill's journey through the Lords.
What happens next?
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the bill - is scheduled for Wednesday 3 June.
These Explanatory Notes explain that the Sporting Events Bill [HL] would create a common, event-specific framework for major sporting events in the UK, enabling regulations to apply five areas—ticket touting, advertising, trading, unauthorised association and transport—to qualifying events. It provides for authorisations, enforcement powers and penalties (including fixed penalties), as well as transport plans and a power to give financial assistance for delivery and legacy activities. The provisions extend to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with devolved consent processes and use a mix of affirmative and negative procedures for applying the framework to events.
The Sporting Events Bill creates a UK-wide regulatory framework that can apply five areas of control—ticket touting, advertising, trading, unauthorised association and transport—to major sporting events held in the UK, where the event meets specified criteria such as international interest and potential social or economic benefits. Regulations by the Secretary of State or devolved authorities will decide which events are covered, when and where the rules apply, and will establish authorisations (ticketing, advertising, trading, association), plus zones and transport plans, with enforcement powers and penalties for breaches. The framework covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and includes cross-border and consumer-protection provisions, with formal requirements for consent, scrutiny, and appeals.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
