A new survey from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) in London has revealed the extent of public support for government arts funding in the United Kingdom.
According to the poll, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults, eighty-seven percent of the nation expressed a desire to see the government do more to support the arts. This figure, the highest ever recorded, has grown substantially since 2024, when seventy-six percent of those surveyed expressed the same sentiment.
The research, which was conducted for the RPO by the UK Omnibus Group in June 2026, also indicates that over a quarter of surveyed individuals felt that making the arts accessible to young people from all backgrounds was a top priority, while another quarter called for more funding for musical education in primary schools. Support was also substantial for grant and scholarship support for young artists.
Among those surveyed, residents of London (ninety-one percent) and those under the age of twenty-five (ninety-three percent) were most likely to support additional government arts funding.
The survey’s findings come as the United Kingdom welcomes a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.
“The last decade has been tough on the music sector, and it can feel difficult to make our voices heard,” says Sarah Bardwell, the RPO’s Managing Director. “This data, however, paints a different picture, showing an engaged public who understands the value of what we do and want to see it supported. We hope that the Government’s new leadership team will respond to the priorities of the public and give our sector the support we need to continue to bring world-leading music to audiences across the country–and around the world.”
More information about the research and its results is available here.