Festive and Commemorative Events Grants

Festive and Commemorative Events grants support costs associated with delivering the following community-led event types only:

Festive Season Events - Christmas, New Year (31 December/1 January) and Australia Day
Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.

Applications for funding for all other types of events can be submitted in the major or minor grant rounds under the category most relevant to the focus of the event.

Information on eligibility, category priorities and assessment criteria

Community Grants guidelines (PDF, 281KB)

What funding is available?

Up to $15,000 for regional events
Up to $3000 for local events.

Well-established community organisations with a proven track record of delivering festive or commemorative community-led events can apply for up to three years funding.

When is funding available?

Eligible Events - Upcoming

These are the last possible submission dates for each event type, but applying early is encouraged to make planning easier.

Anzac Day 2026 - submit by 16 February 2026
Remembrance Day 2026 - submit by 29 June 2026.
Festive Season (Christmas, New Year’s Eve 2026) - submit by 14 September 2026 (earlier submission by 29 June is encouraged).
Australia Day 2027 - submit by 14 September 2027
Notification is approximately 5 weeks after each of these final submission dates.

Festive and Commemorative Event Round Details

Assessments occur at the end of June, September and February.
Applications are closed between 16 February and 18 May 2026. This time will be used to review the program and get ready for the next financial year.
There will be no multi-year applications in the June 2026 round (the next opportunity for multi-year requests will be in the June 2027 round).

Please see below for key dates to assist with planning:

Key Dates	Notes
16 February 2026	Final date for 2026 Anzac events
29 June 2026	Final date for Remembrance Day submissions. Preferred date for Christmas/New Year and Australia Day submissions
14 September 2026	Final date for 2026 Christmas/New Year and 2027 Australia Day events
15 February 2027	Final date for 2027 Anzac events

*The next three-year multi funding round will open in June 2027.

When will I know if I have been successful?

Single-year funding applications will be notified approximately 3 weeks after each round closes., ie 3 weeks after end of July, October, January and April.
Multi-year funding will be notified approximately 6 weeks after the round closes.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online.
To receive a link to the application form, please phone Kerrie from Council's Creative Arts & Events team on 0488 680 232. If your project is approved to move forward, you will get an email with a link to the application form. (Please do not call if you already received the link in an email).
Events must be scheduled to take place after notification of funding outcomes.