Open10 days left · closes midday, Thursday 8 October 2026

003550 - Flagship Festival 2027

Durham County Council · Local authority

In brief

Durham County Council is looking for suppliers for leisure and events work (North East).

The estimated value is £1,500,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 2 years, up to 4 years with extensions, starting 1 February 2027.

Bids close at midday, Thursday 8 October 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by: midday, Wednesday 7 October 2026
Bids by: midday, Thursday 8 October 2026

How bids are scored

Final Proposal 60% · Price 30% · Social Value 10%

Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.

Competition

Usually high: a median of 14 bids per contract for this buyer (from 81 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

Durham County Council is seeking an experienced and innovative delivery partner to develop and deliver a new flagship cultural event for County Durham. The Council is looking for a bold, ambitious and distinctive proposition that represents a step change from traditional festival models and has the potential to become a recurring, nationally recognised event. The successful proposal should be original, participatory and rooted in County Durham's unique identity, bringing together culture, creativity, innovation, technology and community engagement. The event should create a defining cultural moment for the county, enhancing its reputation as a place of creativity and excellence, while delivering lasting cultural, social and economic benefits. Proposals must demonstrate strong opportunities for participation, skills development and talent progression, particularly for children and young people, ensuring local communities play an active role in shaping and delivering the event.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 10 days?Leave time for clarification questions and sign-off.
Is a contract of about £1,500,000 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in North East?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Send clarification questions before midday, Wednesday 7 October 2026.
Make sure your bid arrives before midday, Thursday 8 October 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Timeline

9 September 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 085456-2026

About the buyer

Durham County CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

203

Awards

122

Suppliers it has used most for leisure and events

Alington House Community Association1 contract
Bullion Community Resource Centre1 contract
Chester-Le-Street Methodist Church1 contract
Consett and District Heritage and Arts Community Interest Company1 contract
Education Plus Ne Ltd1 contract

All tenders and awards from Durham County Council

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From notice 085456-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 9 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 27 September 2026.