Financial assistance for tourism festivals and events — Stream 4

This grant provides structured financial assistance aimed at enhancing visibility and sustainability of non-recurrent events in Quebec. Funding is delivered through specific modalities crafted to support qualified projects.

• The financial aid covers up to 25% of eligible project expenses, with a cap of $750,000.
• Funding is a one-time, non-recurrent grant designed for unique, non-repeat events.
• Subsidies are granted as a lump-sum payment, subject to budget availability.
• Eligible events must be budgeted at a minimum of $1 million, excluding infrastructure costs.

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's legal status and operational location.

• The applicant must be a legally constituted organization under the laws of the Government of Québec or the Government of Canada, conducting business in Québec.
• Eligible entities include for-profit organizations (OBL), non-profit organizations (OBNL), cooperatives, municipal entities, recognized Indigenous communities or nations, and any combination of these groups.
• Entities such as state-owned corporations, ministries, and governmental bodies of Québec or Canada are not eligible.
• Organizations listed in the Register of Ineligible Businesses for Public Contracts (RENA) are excluded.
• Applicants who have failed to meet their obligations from previous financial aid, despite formal notice, in the past two years are not eligible.

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants for this grant include various organizations operating in Quebec, focused on strengthening Quebec's position as a national and international destination. The grant supports the development of festivals and tourism events, emphasizing responsible and sustainable tourism practices across Quebec.

• Organizations with a focus on event planning and tourism in Quebec.
• For-profit organizations (OBL) or non-profit organizations (OBNL) legally constituted under Quebec or Canadian laws.
• Cooperatives engaged in tourism and event planning.
• Municipal entities planning tourism events in Quebec.
• Recognized Indigenous communities or nations participating in event planning.
• Consortia composed of eligible participants in these categories.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain organizations and events based on their relation to public contracts and previous financial obligation breaches. Specific exclusions ensure the grant supports sectors and events aligned with its objectives for sustainable and responsible tourism development in Quebec.

• State-owned companies and departments or agencies of the Quebec or Canadian governments.
• Businesses registered on the Register of companies not eligible for public contracts (RENA).
• Organizations that have failed to meet their obligations under previous grants within the past two years after being duly notified.
• Regular programming of an attraction, trade shows, tourism exchanges, conferences, congresses, shows, fairs and markets (not aimed at gourmet tourism), and exhibitions without additional programming.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the preparation, execution, and management of festivals and events.

• Costs of preparation and management of the event (limited to 25% of total eligible costs for components 1 and 4, and to 40% for component 2 for events with a budget of $500,000 or more).
• Costs of programming.
• Costs of promotion, marketing, and communication.
• Costs of site management and installations.
• Costs of products intended for resale.
• Salaries and benefits of human resources related to the event.
• Sponsorships in goods and services, where costs are eligible (limited to 50% of total eligible costs when audited).
• Expenses related to development and responsible sustainability obligations.

The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives, particularly focusing on the performance of festivals and events.

• The number of days of participation by tourists.
• The proportion of days of participation by tourists from outside Quebec.
• The attractiveness index of the festival or event to visitors.
• The economic benefits generated by the event.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The current budgetary constraints of the program mean that Volet 3 is suspended and no new applications are being accepted at this time.
• Existing beneficiaries under the program agreement do not need to submit a new financial aid application for their events planned between November 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
• The maximum cumulative government aid percentages differ according to the type of organization, with the lowest applicable percentage used for groupings of eligible client bases.
• Events must present cost estimates distinct from those in Volets 1 and 2 if applying for Volet 3, and any projects should reflect their potential to increase tourism performance or economic outcomes.
• If cumulative surpluses exceed 20% of annual eligible costs, a detailed plan for surplus allocation tied to the event's organization in Québec must be submitted.
• Applicants are advised that overall program funding is subject to availability and that meeting criteria does not guarantee financial support.
• COVID-19 adjustments permit the use of the last valid attendance study instead of requiring new studies.