United Kingdom. New legislation could make the finances of cultural organizations in the United Kingdom even more complicated. From the spring of 2026, the law on digital markets, competition and consumers will impose a period of withdrawal of fourteen days on any subscription to a subscription, including memberships to cultural institutions. However, memberships offer free access to cultural sites the same day of subscription. The new members could for example visit paid exhibitions, even when they display full, buy from the shops of these institutions by taking advantage of 10 % reduction, then being reimbursed for their subscription. The institutions fear the financial loss caused, while they already undergo strong budgetary pressure.
To alert Prime Minister Keir Starmer for these risks, a letter signed by various institutions was sent to him at the end of July. The National Trust, in charge of more than 500 heritage sites and signatory of the letter, is concerned about the repercussions of this management law, while it has more than 5 million members, for an average membership of 96 pounds (€ 111) per person. The institution recalls that, due to the charitable nature of these cultural organizations, memberships were hitherto considered as a charity donation, and not as a consumer contract, which differentiates them from commercial enterprises. The new legislation would thus increase the charges of these organizations and may oblige certain associations to further reduce their essential services.
According to the newspaper The Timeswhich had access to this letter not made public, the tate or even historic royal palaces would also have signed the document. If the government has not sent an official response, the Ministry of Business and Commerce indicates dialogue with charitable organizations on this subject. Nevertheless, the ministry recalls that the objective of the law consists in protecting consumers from trap subscriptions and that the charitable status of cultural organizations does not exclude them from consumer law.
