Community and Engagement Survey 2025/26 Findings Released

The Community and Engagement Survey (CES) 2025/26 provides an in-depth look at how individuals in England interact with their communities and engage with culture, media, and sports. Released on 31 July 2026, the survey replaced the previous Participation and Community Life Surveys as of October 2025, offering a continuous data stream through web-based surveys.

Survey Coverage and Structure

The survey targets individuals aged 16 and over in England and is designed to gather comprehensive demographic and geographic data at national, regional, and local authority levels. The current release covers data from October 2025 to March 2026, with some data tracing back to April 2025. This approach allows a thorough analysis of community activities and cultural engagement.

Replacement of Previous Surveys

In October 2025, the CES took over from DCMS’ Participation and Community Life Surveys. This change enables a broader and more accessible data set, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance community insight through improved data collection methods.

Methodology and Access

Conducted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), the CES operates under the guidelines set by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). The survey employs web-based methodologies to reach a wide audience, ensuring a diverse representation of the population’s engagement levels.

Data from this survey is unique to England, with no harmonized equivalent across Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Interested parties may refer to corresponding surveys such as the Scottish Household Survey and the National Survey for Wales for comparative insights.

Transparency and Accessibility

The survey maintains transparency with immediate pre-release access limited to essential officials and ministers for briefing purposes. This restricted access aligns with best practices, ensuring data integrity and public trust.

Upcoming releases and Corrections

The next CES data release is scheduled for September 2026, covering April to June of the same year. Recent updates to technical reports have corrected inaccuracies—specifically, the replacement of outdated invitation and reminder letters with the correct 2025/26 versions.

Adhering to High Standards

DCMS follows the OSR’s Code of Practice for Statistics, ensuring all statistical releases are trustworthy and valuable. Stakeholders and the public are encouraged to reach out with comments regarding adherence to these standards via email to DCMS or directly through the OSR.

The release is overseen by Dea Begaj, ensuring that all inquiries are addressed accurately to maintain the survey's credibility.

For further reading, please refer to related sections on regulation and news.