2026-2027 Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants (Australia)

The Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants 2026–27 provides funding of AUD 5,000 to AUD 20,000 to support multicultural festivals and events across New South Wales (NSW). The program helps not-for-profit community organisations deliver inclusive public events that celebrate cultural diversity, strengthen community harmony, and promote cross-cultural understanding.

About the Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants

The Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants is a funding initiative that supports multicultural festivals and community events across New South Wales (NSW).

The program aims to strengthen social cohesion by encouraging communities to celebrate cultural diversity, preserve cultural traditions, promote intercultural understanding, and create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect through publicly accessible events.

For the 2026–27 funding period, one grant round will support eligible festivals and events taking place between 1 October 2026 and 30 September 2027.

Focus Areas

The program supports projects that promote:

• Multicultural festivals and community events
• Cultural diversity and inclusion
• Community harmony
• Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
• Social cohesion
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Sharing of cultural traditions
• Community participation
• Inclusive public celebrations
• Intercultural engagement
• Community connections
• Diverse cultural experiences

Grant Amount

Successful applicants may receive grants ranging from:

• Minimum Grant: AUD 5,000
• Maximum Grant: AUD 20,000

Only one funding round is available for the 2026–27 program.

Eligible Activities

Funding can support festivals and events that:

• Celebrate multicultural communities.
• Showcase cultural traditions and heritage.
• Promote cultural exchange and learning.
• Encourage participation from people of diverse backgrounds.
• Strengthen relationships between different communities.
• Increase public understanding of multiculturalism.
• Provide accessible community celebrations across NSW.

Events should be open to the public and encourage broad community participation.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations.
• Community organisations located in New South Wales (NSW).

Applicants must:

• Be incorporated not-for-profit organisations.
• Be based in NSW.
• Organise publicly accessible multicultural festivals or events.
• Demonstrate how different cultures and traditions will be presented.
• Explain how project success will be measured.
• Collect attendance data and share outcomes with Multicultural NSW after the event.
• Demonstrate financial co-contributions from other funding sources.

Who is Not Eligible?

The following are not eligible to apply:

• Individuals
• Groups of individuals
• Unincorporated organisations
• For-profit commercial organisations
• Local councils applying without a community organisation partner

Ineligible Activities

Funding will not support:

• Political activities
• Commercial activities
• Fundraising activities
• Films and writers’ festivals
• National or Independence Day celebrations of countries other than Australia
• Single-faith religious rituals or promotional activities
• Projects dependent on recurring annual funding
• Core organisational operations
• General operating expenses
• Ongoing service delivery

Assessment Criteria

Applications are expected to demonstrate:

• Strong celebration of multicultural cultures and traditions.
• Positive community impact.
• Opportunities for broad public participation.
• Promotion of cross-cultural understanding.
• Clear and measurable project outcomes.
• Effective evaluation methods.
• Financial support from additional funding sources.
• Strong organisational capacity to deliver the event.

Why This Grant Matters

Multicultural festivals play an important role in creating inclusive communities by bringing people from different cultural backgrounds together.

The Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants help organisations:

• Celebrate cultural diversity.
• Promote social inclusion.
• Strengthen community relationships.
• Preserve cultural heritage.
• Encourage intercultural dialogue.
• Increase community participation.
• Build stronger and more connected communities.

How to Apply

Eligible organisations should prepare an application that includes:

1. Details of the proposed multicultural festival or event.
2. A description of the cultures and traditions that will be showcased.
3. An explanation of how the event promotes community harmony and cultural understanding.
4. A project budget showing requested funding and financial co-contributions.
5. A plan for measuring attendance and project outcomes.
6. Evidence of organisational eligibility and incorporation.
7. Any supporting documents required by Multicultural NSW.

Applications should be submitted before the published application deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Clearly explain how the event celebrates cultural diversity.
• Demonstrate broad community participation.
• Include partnerships with diverse cultural communities.
• Present realistic attendance targets.
• Show strong financial planning and co-funding.
• Include measurable outcomes and evaluation methods.
• Highlight long-term community benefits.
• Ensure the event is accessible and inclusive for all community members.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants program?

It is a NSW funding program that supports multicultural festivals and events that promote cultural diversity, inclusion, and community harmony.

How much funding is available?

Eligible organisations can apply for grants between AUD 5,000 and AUD 20,000.

Who can apply?

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations located in New South Wales are eligible.

What types of events are supported?

Public multicultural festivals and events that celebrate cultural traditions, promote intercultural understanding, and encourage broad community participation.

Can local councils apply?

Yes, but only if they partner with a community organisation.

What activities are not eligible?

Political activities, fundraising events, commercial activities, films and writers’ festivals, single-faith religious promotions, core operating costs, and projects dependent on ongoing annual funding are not eligible.

How will applications be assessed?

Applications will be assessed based on cultural impact, community participation, measurable outcomes, financial planning, organisational capacity, and contribution to community harmony.

Conclusion

The Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants 2026–27 provides valuable funding for multicultural community organisations across New South Wales to deliver inclusive festivals and events that celebrate cultural diversity and strengthen social cohesion. By supporting accessible public events that foster cross-cultural understanding and community participation, the program helps build more connected, vibrant, and inclusive communities throughout NSW.