Apply for Local Council Major Festival Grant (Australia)

Multicultural NSW’s Stronger Together Grants Program offers Local Council Major Festival Grants to support major multicultural festivals, events, and projects delivered by local councils across New South Wales (NSW). Funding is available for festivals held between 1 February 2027 and 29 February 2028, with up to $250,000 available for each eligible local council. Applications close at 4:00pm, Friday 2 October 2026. The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program supports multicultural festivals, events, and projects across NSW. Festivals are described as a way to promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding, enabling culturally diverse communities to celebrate, preserve, and share traditions while living the Multicultural Principles of the State. This specific opportunity provides grant funding for major festivals run by local councils across NSW for the 2027–28 period. For details on what costs are eligible and any other conditions, applicants should review the official Local Council Major Festival Grant Funding Guidelines (linked on the opportunity page). Based on the opportunity page, this grant funding is for major festivals run by local councils across NSW for 2027–28. The source provided does not specify additional eligibility requirements beyond: Not specified in the source: Whether there are eligibility criteria beyond local council status (for example, council size, prior grant history, or specific compliance requirements). Applicants should confirm all requirements in the official guidelines.

This opportunity supports:

The source does not provide further sector breakdowns or thematic priority areas beyond the festival focus and the attendance/delivery requirements. Local Council Major Festival Grants are designed to enable large-scale multicultural festivals across NSW. By requiring minimum attendance levels and restricting funding to festivals delivered within a defined 2027–28 window, the program aims to support events with broad community reach and planned delivery timelines. Use the “Local Council Major Festival Grant Funding Guidelines” link provided on the opportunity page to review requirements and conditions. Ensure your festival is scheduled between 1 February 2027 and 29 February 2028 and that it meets the stated minimum attendance thresholds (10,000 regional / 30,000 metropolitan). Submit your application using the Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants system (the opportunity page states: “Apply now using Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants.”). The source does not specify a time zone; applicants should confirm the time zone in SmartyGrants or the official guidelines. Official application link: The opportunity page indicates applications are submitted via Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants, but the direct link is not included in the supplied text. Applicants should use the “Apply now” option on the official page. What is the Local Council Major Festival Grants opportunity? It is a grant opportunity under Multicultural NSW’s Stronger Together Grants Program that supports major multicultural festivals run by local councils across NSW for 2027–28. How much funding is available? The opportunity page states up to $250,000 is available for each eligible local council. When must the festival be held? Festivals must be delivered between 1 February 2027 and 29 February 2028. Is there a limit on how many events can be funded? Yes. Funding is for one event only during the funding period. What are the minimum attendance requirements?

Minimum attendance must be:

When is the application deadline? How do I apply? Apply using Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants as stated on the opportunity page. The supplied text does not include a direct URL, so use the “Apply now” link on the official page. Before applying, review the Local Council Major Festival Grant Funding Guidelines linked on the official Multicultural NSW opportunity page to confirm all eligibility requirements, assessment expectations, and any documentation or cost rules not included in the summary text. Then prepare your SmartyGrants application to align with the required festival dates and minimum attendance thresholds.