Closed
Events & Festivals Fund
Supports multi-day tourism events to boost overnight visitation
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 25,000 - $ 150,000
Timeline
- Open Date : October 1, 2025
- Closing date : October 20, 2025
Location
Alberta, Canada
Overview
The Events & Festivals Fund provides up to $150,000 to support multi-day events and festivals that drive overnight tourism in Alberta. Eligible activities include logistical and production costs, artist fees, venue rentals, promotional support, and creative marketing initiatives.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop an online presence
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Minimum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : October 1, 2025
- Closing date : October 20, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Expansion or enhancement of existing multi-day events and festivals that encourage overnight stays.
- Initiation and development of new multi-day events or festivals designed to attract tourists for overnight visits.
- Transformation of events into annual fixtures focused on increasing visitation beyond peak seasons.
- Collaborative tourism events involving partnerships with other Alberta tourism organizations.
- Projects that extend the tourism season by organizing events during shoulder or winter periods.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Alberta-based tourism businesses
- Indigenous tourism organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations with a focus on tourism
- Indigenous communities with a focus on tourism
- Municipalities with a focus on tourism
Who is not eligible
- Charitable and fundraising organizations hosting events
- Organizers of local community events
- Hosts of amateur sport tournaments
- Planners of consumer and trade shows or conferences
- Organizers of political events
- Events common across multiple communities (e.g., Canada Day celebrations)
- Business improvement areas
- Events that do not charge admission
- Events not accessible to the public
Eligible expenses
- Logistical and production costs
- Performers, artists, and artisan fees
- Rental of security barriers, toilets, tents, lighting, sound equipment, and venues
- Permits and insurance
- Hiring of a production company
- Costs associated with sustainability initiatives for the festival
- Promotional support
- Creative development and agency fees for integrated marketing campaigns
- Fees for radio, TV, print, and digital advertising promoting tourism
- Social media strategy and implementation, including contracted community management
- Public relations and associated fees
- Content development including photography, video, and written content (with required shot list)
- Website development and/or E-commerce platforms
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
Additional information
- Applicants must contribute at least 25% of the total event or festival costs themselves.
- Organizations may submit multiple applications for different events within the same funding year, but the combined maximum funding for all applications is $150,000 per organization.
- If previously funded for the same event, applicants must demonstrate new growth, activations, or expanded programming with the new funding request.
- The funding is transferred via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) after the funding agreement execution.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Events & Festivals Fund Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Events & Festivals Fund. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Events & Festivals Fund?
The Events & Festivals Fund provides up to $150,000 to support multi-day events and festivals that drive overnight tourism in Alberta. Eligible activities include logistical and production costs, artist fees, venue rentals, promotional support, and creative marketing initiatives.
How much funding can be received?
Events & Festivals Fund Funds up to 25% of admissible expenses, capped at $150,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was October 20, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Events & Festivals Fund program?
To be eligible for the Events & Festivals Fund program, you must:
Alberta-based tourism business, Indigenous tourism organization, or not-for-profit/municipality with a tourism focus
Non-municipal partners must have operated for at least three years
Must contribute a minimum of 25% of total event or festival cost
What expenses are eligible under Events & Festivals Fund?
Expansion or enhancement of existing multi-day events and festivals that encourage overnight stays.
Initiation and development of new multi-day events or festivals designed to attract tourists for overnight visits.
Transformation of events into annual fixtures focused on increasing visitation beyond peak seasons.
Collaborative tourism events involving partnerships with other Alberta tourism organizations.
Projects that extend the tourism season by organizing events during shoulder or winter periods.
Who can I contact for more information about the Events & Festivals Fund?
You can contact Travel Alberta by email at tourisminvestment@travelalberta.com.
Where is the Events & Festivals Fund available?
The Events & Festivals Fund program is available the province of Alberta.