Gaelic language commissioning
麻豆社 ALBA FACTUAL COMMISSIONING ROUND SUMMER 2026/27
麻豆社 ALBA is committed to creating content for Gaelic audiences that is authentic, meaningful, and relatable. We are ambitious and outward-looking, determined to showcase our language and culture to a wider audience. We鈥檙e looking for proposals for impactful factual programmes that can win a wide audience, as well as creative ideas that can achieve critical recognition for the channel.
COMMISSIONING PRIORITY: Factual
鈥� We are looking for high-impact factual content with compelling characters and contemporary stories.
鈥� We are keen to see proposals which already have other funders/broadcasters attached.
鈥� In this round we are not prioritizing:
- general historical subjects
- factual entertainment
- music performance
鈥� We intend to publish future commissioning rounds for other genres.
SCHEDULE PRIORITIES
鈥� This round is primarily for content delivering to 麻豆社 ALBA in winter 2026/27.
鈥� We are looking for distinctive, eye-catching peak-time content for the 9pm slot on linear but which will also make an impact on iPlayer.
FORMATS AND DURATIONS
鈥� We will consider single programmes and short series.
鈥� We can take a flexible approach to durations.
鈥� We will consider ambitious feature-length single documentaries that have a cinematic/festival life cycle before appearing on 麻豆社 ALBA. Feature documentaries should have co-funding attached or a credible co-funding finance plan in place.
CO-FUNDING
Priority will be given to ideas that take into consideration further funding such as, but not limited to:
鈥� Creative Scotland's Broadcast Content Fund
鈥� Tax reliefs (via BFI tax credits certification)
鈥� BFI UK Global Screen Fund
SUBMISSION PROCESS:
We are using a new accompanying form which all producers must complete when submitting ideas. You鈥檒l find the form by following this link:
This is in addition to the editorial pitch document which should also be submitted to bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk
DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS
Deadline for ideas: Friday 22nd May 2026 at 5pm.
The Commissioning Team will discuss each idea received in detail and shortlist the most compelling and suitable ideas for this round.
Meetings will be scheduled with producers of shortlisted projects. This will be an opportunity to explore the ideas in greater depth.
We aim to share final commissioning decisions by Friday 26th June 2026.
Idea submissions, forms and any questions on anything contained in this Commissioning Round should be addressed to Claire MacDonald and Jennifer MacKenzie at: bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk
麻豆社 ALBA DIGITAL COMMISSIONING, SUMMER 2026
NEW GAELIC-LANGUAGE DIGITAL-FIRST OPPORTUNITY
麻豆社 ALBA is looking for ideas for new digital first factual and factual entertainment series aimed at younger audiences (18鈥�24), designed primarily for YouTube and 麻豆社 iPlayer.
With more choice than ever, it鈥檚 vital that this content stands out on digital platforms. Ideas should feel timely, contemporary and distinctive in subject, style and tone, and be clearly presented from a young point of view.
Ideas should feel rooted in lived experience and reflect how young Gaels experience life today - across rural, urban and diaspora contexts.
We are looking to commission short form series, with episodes typically 8鈥�15 minutes, custom built for 麻豆社 ALBA YouTube and 麻豆社 iPlayer.
Think returnable, hooky formats with a clear reason for audiences to come back. Tone should be fast paced, colourful and confident, with warmth, wit and personality at the centre (think previous series, such as Somhairle Spins, Rudan Beaga B貌idheach le Niamh Mackinnon).
We are particularly interested in talent led series, ideally fronted by Gaelic speaking creators, with an existing online presence among young audiences.
We are committed to developing Gaelic speaking talent on and off screen, and cultural and linguistic authenticity is essential. Gaelic should feel natural, confident and contemporary, not ornamental. There is an expectation that key roles will be crewed with Gaelic speakers where possible.
IDEAS
We are open to a broad range of topics, but we are particularly interested in ideas that deliver clear audience value and encourage participation, conversation or connection. Ideas could fall into one or more of the below categories:
&苍产蝉辫;鈥� Joy & Escapism
Formats that are fun, colourful and allow young audiences to 鈥榮witch off鈥�.
鈥� Lived experience & identity
Stories rooted in everyday life, humour, relationships and personal experience - reflecting how young people navigate language, culture, work, creativity and belonging today.
鈥� Learning, curiosity & 鈥済eek out鈥� moments
Accessible, entertaining ideas that allow audiences to discover something new - skills, worlds, subcultures or perspectives, through a playful, personality driven lens.
鈥� Community & connection
Content that invites participation, conversation or social spin off, encouraging audiences to comment, share and see themselves reflected.
鈥� Coming of age / navigating adulthood
Observational or talent led storytelling that explores how young people are navigating life - including work, money, identity or creativity - grounded in lived experience and told with warmth, humour and insight.
We are not looking for traditional TV formats or production models. Successful ideas will be achievable within digital first budgets, have a strong visual style and offer multi-platform assets for content to live across 麻豆社 ALBA platforms.
Gaelic should be the predominant on screen language, however, we will consider mixed language formats.
FUNDING
Expected tariff will be circa 拢1k per minute and we would expect producers to tailor their editorial ambitions to reflect this, or work with additional funders, such as Creative Scotland's Broadcast Content Fund to increase the overall production budget: .
SUBMISSION PROCESS
We are using a new accompanying form which all producers must complete when submitting ideas, here is a .
This is in addition to the editorial pitch document which should also be submitted to bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk
DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS
Deadline for ideas: Friday 22nd May 2026 at 5pm.
The Commissioning Team will discuss each idea received in detail and shortlist the most compelling and suitable ideas for this round.
Meetings will be scheduled with producers of shortlisted projects. This will be an opportunity to explore the ideas in greater depth.
We aim to share final commissioning decisions by Friday 26th June 2026.
Idea submissions, forms and any questions on anything contained in this Commissioning Round should be addressed to Claire MacDonald and Jennifer MacKenzie at: bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk
Who we are
- Head of Gaelic Services & Inclusion: Margaret Mary Murray
- Director of Content Additionality: Margaret Cameron
- Commissioning Editor: Bill MacLeod
- Commissioning Executive: Fiona MacKenzie
- Commissioning Executive: Calum McConnell