003550 - Flagship Festival 2027

What the buyer is asking for

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.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 60%qualityFinal Proposal
• 30%pricePrice
• 10%qualitySocial Value

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 112 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice publishedyesterday

   2 Oct 2026, 07:47 BST
2. Clarification questions byin 25 days

   28 Oct 2026, 12:00 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 26 days

   29 Oct 2026, 12:00 GMT
4. Award decision expected byin 123 days

   2 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender

1. Tender notice9 Sept 2026, 14:48 BST085456-2026
2. Tender updated2 Oct 2026, 07:47 BST093075-2026

Documents

• Tender notice on Find a Tender