Community and Participation Survey 2025/26: National Tourism

The Community and Participation Survey (CES) provides insight into how individuals aged 16 and over in England engage with their community, culture, media, and live sports. Starting in October 2025, this survey reformulated the previous assessment method used in the Participation Survey and the DCMS Community Life Survey. This publication, with data primarily collected between October 2025 and March 2026, offers nationwide, regional, and local information about various issues affecting local communities.

Details of the Methodological Change

The CES replaces previous surveys, allowing for a continuous and updated approach. Most data was collected through the new survey starting in October 2025, although some earlier data comes from the Participation Survey conducted from April to September 2025. In line with best practices, the list for early access to the data has been kept to a minimum and those involved only had 24 hours for review.

Geographic Coverage

The survey covers data at a national and regional level, and also provides detailed information at the local authority level in England. In contrast, there is no harmonized survey within the devolved administrations in the UK, although there are efforts in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to collect similar data through their continuous household surveys.

Standards of Statistical Practice

The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) governs our statistical practice to ensure standards of trust, quality, and value, aligned with the Code of Practice for Statistics. We welcome feedback on how we comply with these standards, and direct feedback can be provided to the OSR.

Release and Next Steps

Reports published on July 31, 2026, will provide feedback on the findings, including demographic and geographic breakdowns. The next publication is scheduled for September 2026 and will cover data from April to June 2026.

For inquiries about this publication, contact Dea Begaj, the responsible analyst, or email [email protected].