World Cup 2026: Licensing Extensions by Scottish Licensing Boards*
*This is general guidance only. Where available hyperlinks are provided to the relevant Licensing Board’s webpage. This provides more information including any relevant conditions and/or exclusions. You should always take legal advice on your individual circumstances.
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General extension granted for the duration of the World Cup.
On-sales premises can remain open until 0300 for the purposes of televising any fixture.
For fixtures involving the Scotland National Team, premises may remain open until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the fixture.
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General extension granted for matches involving home nations to allow premises screening the matches to remain open until 30 minutes after full time.
The extension will also apply from the quarter final stage onwards regardless of the teams playing.
A notification to the Board of intention to use the extension is required in advance.
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General extension for on-sales premises with TV sport allowed in the operating plan,. Allows premises to open for 30 minutes post final whistle of an Scotland match. It does not cover other nations’ matches.
The Board plans to contact licence holders to confirm whether they intend to utilise the extended hours.
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General extension granted.
Pubs will be allowed to remain open for 30 minutes after Scotland matches end.
For all other World Cup matches, pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am to show the games or 30 minutes after any 11pm kick-off match ends – whichever is later.
Premises must have TV sport permitted in their operating plan.
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A general extension has been granted for premises to remain open for 30 minutes after full time of any home nations match.
TV sport must be permitted in the operating plan and further guidance will be issued by the Licensing Board to venues in due course.
https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/news/article/14707/licensing_extension_agreed_for_world_cup
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General extension granted for the duration of the World Cup.
On-sales premises allowed to remain open for 30 minutes after the final whistle/end of play of a live World Cup 2026 football match where it is being shown within the licensed premises, beyond the terminal hour. (Premises must have televised sport within its operating plan).
The Board will contact licence holders to request information on the games they intend to screen (it will be a voluntary survey).
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/14364/late-licences-approved-for-world-cup
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A two pronged approach.
A general extension for Scotland’s 11pm KO matches (vs Brazil and Morocco) allows premises to open until 30 minutes after the full time whistle.
For the Haiti match which has a 2am KO an extended hours application will be required.
Premises will need to have TV sport permitted in the operating plan
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General extension granted for the duration of the World Cup.
On-sales premises allowed to remain open for 30 minutes after the final whistle/end of play of a live World Cup 2026 football match where it is being shown within the licensed premises, beyond the terminal hour. (Premises must have televised sport within its operating plan).
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General extension granted for Scotland matches only . It only applies to on-sales licensed premises that have televised sport in their operating plan.
Notification to the police and the Board of an intention to remain open must be made by 16 April.
A further meeting is scheduled to discuss other nations’ matches.
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No general extension.
The Board will invite individual extended hours applications by premises licence holders.
Closing time will be 30 minutes after the final whistle for those successful in extending their hours.
The deadline for submission of applications will be 31st March 2026.
https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/news/apply-for-extended-world-cup-opening-hours
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of Scotland’s World Cup matches being screened live. This does not apply to any match other than Scotland. No U18s will be permitted.
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General extension granted to premises with an on-sale premises licence.
To benefit and remain open up to a maximum of 30 minutes after the final whistle of all World Cup matches licence holders must, at least 48 hours before any extended hours, notify the Board of the dates they wish to trade. You must also comply with various requirements which can be found here -
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General extension for pubs screening matches involving any of the home nations until half an hour after the final whistle.
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No general extension.
The Board will invite individual extended hours applications by premises licence holders.
Premises must have TV sport permitted in their operating plan.
The deadline for applications is 31 March 2026.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of World Cup matches being screened live. This applies to any match.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of Scotland’s World Cup matches being screened live. This does not apply to any match other than Scotland.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of World Cup matches being screened live. This applies to any match.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of Scotland’s World Cup matches being screened live. This does not apply to any match other than Scotland.
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No general extension granted the Board has invited individual extended hours applications.
The deadline to apply is 31 March
