Cultural Festivals, Markets and Events Grants: 1 Jan - 30 Jun 2027

Aligned with the Council Plan 2025–29, the Cultural Festivals, Markets and Events Grants (CFMEG) aims to: 

• Celebrate multicultural communities through programming that reflects Melbourne’s cultural diversity and lived experiences.
• Increase opportunities for cultural festivals and local markets by empowering multicultural communities to design and deliver events. 
• Strengthen social cohesion by supporting events that bring diverse communities together and foster shared experiences. 
• Increase participation and belonging by delivering inclusive and welcoming events for all residents and visitors. 
• Activate public spaces with culturally vibrant events that encourage interaction, connection, and community pride. 
• Support community-led organisers by reducing barriers to funding and enabling smaller organisations to deliver meaningful events.

Community Connection and Multicultural Impact (40%) 

• Demonstrates contribution to social cohesion, inclusion, and belonging. 
• Creates opportunities for cross-cultural engagement or shared experiences. 
• Delivers meaningful benefits to diverse communities. 

 Programming Quality (22%) 

• Features culturally meaningful, engaging, or community-led programming. 
• Enhances the overall event experience. 
• Is well planned, realistic, and achievable. 

 Accessibility and Inclusion (16%) 

• Demonstrates strong inclusive practices (physical, cultural, social accessibility). 
• Actively engages diverse communities in design and delivery. 

City Activation and Alignment (9%) 

• Supports a vibrant, year-round event calendar. 
• Aligns with priorities such as cultural festivals, local markets, and community-led activations. 
• Considers timing, location, and uniqueness. 

Event Viability (13%) 

• Presents a clear and realistic event plan and budget. 
• Demonstrates organiser capability and safe delivery. 
• Demonstrates event is receiving other funding support. 

Eligible Events 

Events must: 

• Occur within the City of Melbourne municipality. 
• Be free and open to the general public. 
• Attract a minimum of 1,000 attendees to the free programming. 
• Begin between 1 January 2027 and 30 June 2027. 
• Demonstrate co-contribution through other funding or income sources. 
• Be presented by a legal entity with an ABN, that is not an individual or sole trader. 
• Have a valid Certificate of Currency for public liability insurance of $20 million. 

Ineligible Events 

The following are not eligible for funding: 

• Private, fully ticketed, invitation-only events. 
• Events held outside the City of Melbourne municipality.  
• Fundraising events where proceeds support external causes. 
• Events primarily focused on commercial sales, expos, or tradeshows. 
• Events that are award ceremonies, conferences, PR opportunity, award ceremony, commercial theatre production, teaching program, lecture or university open day. 
• The event (including components thereof) receives funding from another City of Melbourne program. 
• Events that have an adverse effect on public health, safety, the environment or heritage. 
• Events that will not comply with anti-discrimination / anti-vilification legislation and / or are incompatible with Council’s policies, priorities or values. Council’s priorities include those set out in the Inclusive Melbourne Action Plan 2024-26 (IMAP).   
• Events that sell or promote unethically sourced animal products or that exploit or use animals in harmful ways, for example, through exhibition or use in performances. 
• Organisations that have an outstanding debt to City of Melbourne.  
• Organisations that have failed to provide satisfactory acquittal reporting or conditions of previous funding received. 
• Organisation undertakes canvassing or lobbying of Elected Members and / or employees of City of Melbourne in relation to the funding request during the application and assessment period.​ 
• Organisation is in a legal conflict with City of Melbourne. 
• The applicant is a Commonwealth or State Government Department, City of Melbourne employee or elected member of Council, or their immediate family. This does not include organisations they may be part of.  
• Organisations that are insolvent. 
• Organisations that conduct, or has conducted, themselves in a way that the City of Melbourne considers to be injurious or prejudicial to the character or interests of the City of Melbourne 
• Organisations that request a grant for reimbursement of funds already spent or for debt reduction or operational deficits. 

Ineligible events will not advance to the assessment stage and applicants will be notified.  

If you wish to speak with us directly regarding the eligibility of your event, please contact us via email at eventgrants@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

Applications for events beginning from 1 July - 31 December 2027 will open early 2027.

City of Melbourne offers a wide range of grants and sponsorships to individuals, community organisations and businesses in the arts, recreation, events and business sectors. We recommend checking the Grants and Sponsorships webpage for any opportunities that may be suitable.