Closed
Last Update: April 10, 2026
Funding available
$ 125,000
Timeline
- Closing date : December 19, 2024
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Funding supports in-person tourism festivals and events in Ontario that attract visitors and increase local spending. Eligible organizations can receive up to $125,000 depending on event cash expenses and tier.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : December 19, 2024
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Non-financial cooperative
- Social economy enterprise
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Language Minorities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Sports
- Other Recreation and Social Clubs
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- LGBTQ+ community
- Rural / Remote communities
- Artists / creatives
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- In-person tourism festivals and events in Ontario
- Multi-day public events with programming for visitors
- Festivals and events that promote Ontario travel and local experiences
Documents Needed
- CRA business number
- Incorporation documents or equivalent organizational documents
- Previous year’s audited financial statements or review engagement report, or board-endorsed/treasurer-certified financial statements
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated organizations and legal entities in Ontario
- First Nations, Indigenous communities, and Indigenous service providers in Ontario
- Regional or provincial Indigenous organizations
Who is not eligible
- Sole proprietorships
- Limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and general partnerships
- Federal or provincial governments and their agencies
Eligible expenses
- Artist, performer, and presenter fees, including related travel and accommodation
- Programming, production, marketing, and temporary event staff costs
- Accessibility, translation, security, sanitation, and health and safety measures
- Economic impact studies and approved direct project costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs outside the eligible period
- Permanent assets, prizes, trophies, and participant expenses
- Permanent staff salaries, overhead, and capital costs
- Alcohol, cannabis products, HST, and refundable expenses
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
- Northern Ontario districts: Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming
Selection criteria
- Organizational capacity
- Festival and event information
- Festival and event programming details
- Marketing and community economic development
- Event budget
How to apply
- Step 1: Prepare your application
- Read the application guide and watch the program video.
- Consult a Tourism Regional Advisor or Northern Regional Development Advisor if needed.
- Create or confirm your TPON and My Ontario account access.
- Step 2: Gather mandatory documents
- Collect the CRA business number and required organizational documents.
- Prepare the required financial statements.
- Step 3: Submit online through TPON
- Complete the application in the TPON portal.
- Attach all mandatory documents before the deadline.
- Submit by December 19, 2024 at 4 p.m. EST.
- Step 4: Await review and notification
- Applications are evaluated during the stated review period.
- Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified by email.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed against eligibility and mandatory requirements.
- Eligible applications are scored against program criteria.
- Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified by email.
- Approved applicants must sign a transfer payment agreement before funding is released.
Additional information
- Only one application per organization and per event is allowed.
- Applicants must submit through Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON).
- Successful applicants must acknowledge Ontario’s support in communications and at the event.
- Recipients may be audited or asked to provide post-event reporting materials.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Experience Ontario 2025 Program
What is the Experience Ontario 2025?
Funding supports in-person tourism festivals and events in Ontario that attract visitors and increase local spending. Eligible organizations can receive up to $125,000 depending on event cash expenses and tier.
How much funding can be received?
Experience Ontario 2025 Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $125,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Experience Ontario 2025 program?
To be eligible for the Experience Ontario 2025 program, you must:
Legal entity operating in Ontario
In existence since January 1, 2024 or earlier
In-person public tourism event in Ontario
What expenses are eligible under Experience Ontario 2025?
In-person tourism festivals and events in Ontario
Multi-day public events with programming for visitors
Festivals and events that promote Ontario travel and local experiences
Who can I contact for more information about the Experience Ontario 2025?
You can contact Government of Ontario by email at ExperienceOntario@ontario.ca or by phone at 416-325-6691.
Where is the Experience Ontario 2025 available?
The Experience Ontario 2025 program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Experience Ontario 2025 a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Experience Ontario 2025 is a Grant and Funding