{"id":25506,"date":"2025-09-24T14:08:43","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T13:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/?p=25506"},"modified":"2025-09-24T14:12:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T13:12:29","slug":"seachdain-na-gaidhlig-world-gaelic-week-2026-launches-with-rallying-call-to-use-it-or-lose-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/seachdain-na-gaidhlig-world-gaelic-week-2026-launches-with-rallying-call-to-use-it-or-lose-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig (World Gaelic Week) 2026 launches with rallying call to \u201cuse it, or lose it\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Promo<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig (World Gaelic Week) will return for its fifth edition in 2026, under the banner Use It or Lose It (Cleachd i no caill i) \u2013 and organisers are encouraging people across Scotland and the global diaspora to get behind the rallying cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gaelic language will be celebrated from 23rd February \u2013 1st March 2026 as the annual initiative reaches its milestone fifth year of highlighting Gaelic’s vitality and enduring presence as a living language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funding opens today for individuals, groups and organisations to apply for grants of up to \u00a3500 to support activities which celebrate Gaelic in their community. Backed by B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig, the Smalls Grant Fund is open to speakers, learners and enthusiasts alike, with singing workshops, ceilidhs and cake decorating lessons among the previously supported events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed to unite communities, ignite meaningful conversations, and encourage a new wave of Gaelic speakers across Scotland and beyond, Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig <\/strong>has seen a year on year increase in applications to the fund. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This resulted in the most diverse, ambitious and largest programme yet in 2025. People have until midnight on Friday 31st October 2025<\/strong> to apply for funding for 2026 at seachdainnagaidhlig.scot<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 theme Use It or Lose It <\/strong>(Cleachd i, no caill i<\/strong>) carries particular poignancy, highlighting the critical importance of actively engaging with Gaelic to ensure its preservation and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joy Dunlop, Director of Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig, said:<\/strong> \u201cFive years into Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig and we can see that the appetite for and appreciation of Gaelic continues to grow, particularly in urban areas. Our mission is to foster and grow that energy and excitement. We want to encourage people of all backgrounds to connect with the language, whether they are fluent speakers or completely new to Gaelic. Our Small Grants Fund is the perfect opportunity to be able to get involved and play your part in making the week a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Languages are living entities, and they thrive through use \u2013 in fact, studies show that continued use and enthusiasm are central to maintaining language skills and proficiency. When we stop engaging with a language, we risk losing not only its words and expressions, but the culture, traditions and history embedded within it. Gaelic is such a treasure, and it\u2019s vital that we continue to speak, share and celebrate it; ensuring it remains a vibrant part of our lives and communities. Whether you\u2019ve never said a Gaelic word or it\u2019s been a while since you connected with the language, our message is simple: start now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard, B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig, said:<\/strong> \u201cB\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig are delighted to be supporting the Small Grants Fund again this year as it supports events and activities across the country, showcasing the strength and breadth of Gaelic language, culture and heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supported by B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig and spearheaded by the Scottish traditional culture and music organisation Hands Up For Trad, Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig<\/strong> draws inspiration from other minority language movements such as Seachtain na Gaeilge in Ireland and M\u00ecos nan G\u00e0idheal in Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The week-long initiative was the first official nationwide language week of its kind in Scotland, providing a platform for Scottish Gaelic speakers, learners, and advocates to honor and promote the language locally and globally, fostering greater national awareness and recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around 170 events were staged in Scotland and worldwide for the 2025 iteration, generating participation and attendances of 40,000, while participation in the schools programme reached 16,700 \u2013 a 32% increase on the previous year. People celebrated World Gaelic Week in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, England, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and the USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig <\/strong>also encompasses the hugely popular Say a Gaelic Phrase Day <\/strong>which engages thousands online each year and will be back on Thursday 26th February 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig 2026<\/strong> will take place from 23rd February – 1st March 2026<\/strong>. For more information or to apply for funding, please visit seachdainnagaidhlig.<\/a>scot<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig is delivered by cultural charity Hands Up for Trad<\/a> and donations make their work possible. Find out more about how to support the initiative at seachdainnagaidhlig.scot\/support-us<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Seachdain na G\u00e0idhlig (World Gaelic Week) will return for its fifth edition in 2026, under the banner Use It or Lose It (Cleachd i no caill i) \u2013 and organisers are encouraging people across Scotland and the global diaspora to get behind the rallying cry. The Gaelic language will be celebrated from 23rd February \u2013 1st March 2026 as the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9,37,285],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-25506","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-news","7":"category-newsletter","8":"category-seachdain-na-gaidhlig","9":"entry","10":"has-post-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"simon","author_link":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/author\/simon\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcv15g-6Do","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25506"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25511,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25506\/revisions\/25511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}