Festivals and events sponsorship

Supports festivals and events that celebrate, develop and engage our communities.

A crowd of people walking through a festival ground on a sunny day

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We’d like to help you choose the right grant and provide tips for a successful application.

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Applications are closed

Applications closed: 4pm Tuesday 3 March
Project timeline: 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
Recommendations to Council: mid-2026

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About this grant

This funding supports local festivals and events that celebrate, develop and engage our diverse communities.

They may provide forums to share knowledge, create opportunities for active community participation, celebrate local culture and creativity and activate local precincts.

They can be one-off, yearly or a series of recurring events over a set period.

Our funding will prioritise festivals and events that:
- celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culture
- strengthen social inclusion, enable connectedness and reduce social isolation
- support the visitor economy through activations, events and promotion
- represent the cultural and social diversity of our communities
- activate local precincts with creative programming.
We encourage applications from organisations, groups and individuals that support Aboriginal and Torres and Strait Islander communities and culture, including Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and networks.
Proposals are assessed against:
- evidence of the need for the project
- demonstrated connection, benefit to, and engagement with the local diverse community in the planning and delivery of the project
- your capacity and experience to deliver the project.
Additional criteria for projects requesting more than $20,000:
- how the project delivers against the funding priorities.
For more information, see the ‘What the assessment criteria means’ section under ‘Application tips’ in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.
- Cash funding up to $50,000 a year is available, for a one-year program or multi-year funding (up to 3 years).
- Value-in-kind in the form of street banner and venue hire is available. Sponsorship recipients provided value-in-kind venue hire for a landmark venue are also eligible for a 25% reduction on equipment hire fees.
- If you’re not an eligible not-for-profit organisation, a business advocacy organisation or an incorporated association, you’re required to match the cash funding requested with cash and/or value in kind.
- You can apply for up to $10,000 worth of capital expenditure or equipment purchase.
For comprehensive information, including definitions and other details, refer to the festival and events sponsorship grant program in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

For information on how to ensure a safe and successful event refer to our event guidelines, associated policies and procedures.

If your project involves an outdoor event within the City of Sydney please discuss your event with our outdoor events and filming team by email at [email protected] or on 02 9265 9333.

To learn about the types of projects we fund, see our list of recent grant recipients.

The goals we have set to make the city green, global and connected are outlined in Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 Continuing the Vision.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must operate within the City of Sydney’s local area or be able to demonstrate significant benefits for the area’s residents, workers and/or visitors.

These individuals and organisations can apply:
- eligible not-for-profit organisation
- incorporated association
- individual auspiced by an eligible not-for-profit organisation
- unincorporated community group auspiced by an eligible not-for-profit organisation
- corporation
- co-operative
- sole trader
- trustee of a trust
- business advocacy organisation
- government entity
If you work with an auspicing organisation, we encourage you to choose one that is relevant to the sector and that can support the development of the proposal.

This program is open to for-profit entities.

For more information on eligibility see the eligibility section in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.
Funding is not available for:
- operational costs or overheads for the core business of an organisation
- fees and charges associated with landmark venues
- outdoor venues aren’t available for value-in-kind requests – for outdoor events contact [email protected].
For more information on what is not eligible for funding in this program, see the general exclusions and ineligibility section of the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

Upcoming information sessions

The following sessions provide general information relevant to many grants. For more detailed information on this grant, see the video recording below.

General online information session – open to all: 1pm to 2.30pm, Thursday 5 February. This session will include an overview of our grants, eligibility and general requirements for an application. Register your spot.
Grants overview for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: 12pm to 2pm, Friday 6 February at 119 Redfern Street, Redfern. Register your spot.
Grant writing workshop for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: 10am to 5pm, Wednesday 18 February at 119 Redfern Street, Redfern. Register your spot.
Online grant writing workshop – open to all: 9.30am to 1pm, Wednesday 11 February. Register your spot.
Online grant writing workshop – open to all: 1pm to 4.30pm, Tuesday 17 February. Register your spot.