TZ’s cultural, sports budget sees historic boost in 2025/26

DODOMA: THE Government has announced a significant increase in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports for the fiscal year 2025/2026, signalling a strong commitment to youth development and creative industries.

The ministry’s budget now stands at 519.66bn/-, reflecting an 82.2 per cent increase from the previous year’s allocation of 285.32bn/-.

This surge follows a consistent upward trajectory, contrasting starkly with figures from earlier years, including 35.45bn/- in 2023/2024, 35.42bn/- in 2022/2023 and 54.74bn/- in 2021/2022.

The Department of Sports Development remains the primary focus of this expansion, with its budget rising from 250.59bn/- in 2024/2025 to 410.55bn/- in 2025/2026—a 63.9 per cent increase.

Among the key areas of focus is the coordination of preparations for two major continental tournaments – the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027. These events are expected to not only boost national pride but also position Tanzania as a competitive host and participant in African football.

Key projects include construction of football stadiums in Dodoma and Arusha, the development of training and recreational facilities for the public in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, construction of a multi-purpose Sports and Arts Arena in Dar es Salaam, as well as renovation of the Benjamin Mkapa and Uhuru stadiums.

Among the most substantial allocations are the construction of an integrated sports complex in Arusha, which jumped from 125.29bn/- to 193.10bn/- (a 54.1 per cent increase), and the Dodoma complex, which more than doubled from 55.5bn/- to 140bn/-.

Funding for the Malya Sports Academy has also increased from 10.02bn/- to 15bn/-, while the Sports and Arts Arena allocation tripled from 150m/- to 450m/-. Additionally, the Sports Development Fund was increased by 50 per cent from 8bn/- to 12bn/-.

However, there was a notable reduction in the budget for recreational centres in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, decreasing by 33.3per cent, from 12bn/- to 8bn/-. In the fiscal year 2025/2026, the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports through the Department of Sports Development plans to implement a wide range of strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the sports sector nationally and internationally.

ALSO READ: Govt unveils AFCON strategies

The Department of Arts Development experienced an even steeper rise. Its allocation rose from 2.1bn/- in 2024/2025 to 8bn/- in 2025/2026, marking a 281 per cent increase.

This includes notable boosts to projects such as the rehabilitation of the Bagamoyo College of Arts, which increased from 1.5bn/- to 2bn/-, and the open arts auditorium and the National Film Complex, both of which received 1bn/- each—an increase of 233 per cent over the previous year’s allocation of 300m/-.

Additionally, the government has allocated 4bn/- to the National Culture and Arts Fund in the 2025/2026 fiscal year. This represents an increase of 1bn/-, or 33.3 per cent, compared to the previous year’s allocation of 3bn/- in 2024/2025.

Looking further back, the allocation for the same fund in 2023/2024 stood at 1.6 billion. This means that over the span of two fiscal years, the fund has more than doubled, increasing by 2.4bn/- in total—equivalent to a 150 per cent rise from the 2023/2024 allocation.

This steady growth clearly reflects the government’s expanding commitment to supporting the creative economy and promoting artistic development across the country. Meanwhile, the Department of Cultural Development received 5.4bn/-, a slight decrease of 1.8 per cent compared to the previous year’s 5.5bn/-.

Though the Liberation Heritage Programme allocation remained virtually unchanged, the funding to strengthen National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA) and promote Kiswahili regionally and internationally rose dramatically from 500m/- to 3.4bn/-, a 580 per cent increase, highlighting renewed emphasis on the global promotion of Tanzania’s linguistic heritage.

Taken in a broader context, this year’s budget marks an extraordinary shift. Compared to 2021/2022, when the total budget was just 54.74bn/-, the 2025/2026 figure represents a nearly 850 per cent increase in just four years. This signals a profound reorientation in government priorities, with arts, culture and sports no longer peripheral sectors but central pillars in the country’s development strategy.

The expansion of funding to this extent offers great opportunities for talent development, employment and national cohesion.

However, the true impact will depend on how effectively these funds are implemented. Transparent management, equitable regional distribution and inclusive access to the resulting programmes and infrastructure will be essential to ensure that this budget delivers lasting benefits to all Tanzanians.

In addition, the Ministry will oversee the establishment of a national agency to combat the use of performanceenhancing drugs and other illegal practices in sports. This effort will be supported by public education and awareness campaigns aimed at promoting clean competition.

The Ministry will maintain its collaboration with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government in organising the UMISSETA and UMITASHUMTA school games. These youth competitions serve as key platforms for identifying and nurturing emerging talent.

The Ministry will also continue to coordinate national sporting events, such as the SHIMIWI public service games and the annual May Day sports events, alongside international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games.

A further strategic priority will be the development and dissemination of a national guideline on sports infrastructure standards. This framework is intended to ensure quality and consistency across all future sports facilities developed within the country.

In a bid to enhance the performance of national teams in international competitions, the Ministry will promote greater engagement with the Tanzanian diaspora, particularly those with professional sports expertise.

At the community level, the Ministry will support the construction and rehabilitation of open sports grounds, improving access to facilities at grassroots level. Moreover, Tanzania will continue to play an active role in regional sports governance through the coordination of activities under the Secretariat of the African Union Sports Council, Region IV.

The Ministry will also supervise the establishment of a dedicated body for managing sports infrastructure across the country, which is vital for sustainable development and long-term investment in the sector. Infrastructure development remains a central pillar of the Ministry’s budget.