Connected Destinations Fund 2026

The Connected Destinations Fund is a £3.38 million investment programme to support tourism destinations as they develop new tourism products across England.

The three-year programme, funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and led by VisitEngland, will see Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) and destinations come together to create stronger visitor experiences and drive sustainable tourism growth across England.

The programme supports regional growth with cross-regional partnerships led by LVEPs, working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, local authorities and industry partners.

Many visitors both domestic and international, want to explore beyond England’s traditional gateways and boundaries and the Connected Destinations Fund will support clusters of LVEPs working collaboratively develop bookable experiences, with compelling regional propositions creating more connected visitor journeys.

LVEPs will be encouraged to use VisitBritain/VisitEngland industry research and insights to inform cross-regional product propositions.

Over the next three years, £3.38 million will be invested in projects that support visitors to stay longer, spend more and further discover England. In Year 1, approximately £800,000 will be available, with four grants of up to £200,000  to be awarded.

By supporting collaborative projects across city, rural and coastal destinations, the fund will support regional ambitions on destination development, connectivity, product enhancement and visitor dispersal and also create stronger regional visitor economies attracting further future investment.

Key dates:

• 17 August 2026: Information webinar for LVEPs
• Early September 2026: Applications open (exact date tbc)
• Late September 2026: Application deadline (exact date tbc)
• Late October 2026: Funding decisions announced
• November 2026: Project mobilisation begins

VisitEngland will provide guidance, market intelligence and support throughout the application process, and we look forward to working with colleagues and destinations to bring this exciting new programme to life.

For further information please contact or [email protected]