Local festivals and events are important strategic investments in Edmonton. They provide opportunities for citizens and visitors to connect, be active in the community, celebrate our heritage and diversity, and contribute to the local economy.

This grant program has been created to support smaller, outdoor community (niche) festivals and events that showcase local talent, celebrate local histories and cultures, and add vibrancy to our city throughout the year.

Application Intake Open

The Festivals and Events Micro Grant Program is now accepting applications for 2026. The deadline for submission is April 15, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Apply for the Festivals and Event Micro Grant

Applicants should allow up to 8 weeks after the deadline to receive a decision.

Grant Funding Allocation

The Festivals and Events Micro Grant funding allocations will vary based on the size, scope and scale of each event as well as alignment with the grant program objectives and priorities.

Grant awards will range between $500-$10,000.

Events are eligible for up to 50% of the total cost to host the event. However, due to the anticipated demand for funding, organizations are encouraged to manage expectations, as in the past, available funding only allowed for 10-20% of total costs to be covered. 

To improve your chances of success, please ensure that you complete all sections of the form and add sufficient detail about how you intend to use the funds.

Funding decisions made by the City are final and cannot be appealed.

The City reserves the right to audit applications and projects that receive funding. You may need to provide additional information to verify the funding was used for the intended purpose outlined in your application.

Grant Priorities

Niche festivals and events that meet the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply. However, the Festivals and Events Micro Grant Program prioritizes the following events:

  • Cultural or multicultural events
  • Indigenous-led or Indigenous serving events
  • Events run or supported by a Business Improvement Area
  • Applications must be aligned with the City Plan.

Download Grant Program Guide

Award Criteria

Grant funding awards will be based on the following criteria:

  • Grant Priority areas
  • Event size, scope and scale: including expected attendance and location capacity
  • Benefit to the public: cultural, recreational, charitable significance and/or supports engagement and representation of communities who have historically been marginalized and underrepresented
  • Public access: free versus charged/cost to participate
  • Not-for-profit or charitable or business improvement area
  • Financial need: those organizations with sufficient funds to host the event without municipal support and other City funding sources
  • Alignment to the City Plan

Grant Eligibility

Eligible events must:

  • Take place within the city of Edmonton boundaries
  • Take place between January 1-December 31. Organizations are welcome to apply retroactively as long as the event(s) occurred in the same calendar year as the application intake
  • Be an outdoor public event primarily located in the public realm (that is, located on city parkland, public open space or road right-of-ways). Consideration may be given to events hosted on private land if the event is fully open to the public
  • Be held in-person with a minimum attendance of 100 people or more
  • Be open to the public, not an event for members-only
  • Events may be free to attend, have a participation fee or require a donation to attend and/or be a ticketed event
  • Produced by an organization, not an individual, that:
    • Is a registered not-for-profit, charitable organization or business improvement area
    • Is in good standing with an annual return stamped by Corporate Registries
    • Is not in arrears with the City of Edmonton
    • Undertakes their work primarily in Edmonton, or has a history of significant activity in Edmonton when they also work elsewhere
  • Demonstrate initiative and success in generating diverse sources of funding
  • Be insured with a minimum of $2 million in general liability coverage with the City of Edmonton listed as an “Additional Insured”
  • Held in compliance with permitting or licensing requirements as required (such as Edmonton Fire, and Development Services) and public health requirements, restrictions and guidance imposed by the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services or the Government of Alberta

Note: organizations may submit an application for more than 1 event per year. Organizations are eligible for a maximum grant award of $10,000 per year, regardless of whether the funding supports one or multiple festivals or events.

The program will be assessed at the end of each year to confirm and/or modify eligibility and criteria.

Grant funding awards will be considered for eligible events only. 

Eligible Events

Eligible types of outdoor events include but are not limited to: 

  • Events with a City-wide focus that do not serve a specific geographic neighbourhood or community
  • Cultural/multicultural festivals, events or recognition activities
  • Indigenous festivals, events or recognition activities
  • Concerts, performances and music festivals
  • Food, art and historical celebrations
  • Parades
Ineligible Events

Ineligible types of events or organizations include, but are not limited to:

  • Events intended to serve the geographic neighbourhood or community, including block parties, play streets or community league events. (community league events produced in partnership with 3 or more leagues will be considered for a grant)
  • Indoor events
  • Virtual events
  • Block parties or play streets
  • Events that have applied for or received Neighbourhood Funding (Neighbourhood Connections Grant or the Revitalization Project Macro-Grant)
  • Organized runs, walks, active living events and opportunities to try or learn a new sport or activities. These events are welcome to apply for the Community Services Live Active Grant
  • Sport Tournaments where membership is required to participate, including regular outdoor sports league play. Note: cultural events that include sport and active living components may be considered.
  • Film productions
  • Political campaigning
  • Charter Rights activities such as protests, rallies, demonstrations, processions, marches and vigils
  • Private events. Examples include, but are not limited to: weddings, graduations, showers, celebrations of life, potlucks, awards ceremonies and roasts
  • Stand-alone markets: vending elements are eligible for larger events
  • Commercial, promotional or marketing activities, such as product demonstrations, merchandise sales, launches
  • Primarily religious services and/or activities delivered by faith organizations
  • Professional or semi-professional spectator and/or sporting events
  • Mega, Major and Signature Attracted events that receive funding from Explore Edmonton and/or the City of Edmonton Partnerships and Event Attraction section
  • Signature or Foundational level events as defined and classified by the City of Edmonton, in keeping with the Festivals and Events Delivery Action Plan
  • Performances, exhibitions or activities that promote or incite racism, hatred or violence
  • Events run by for-profit organizations
  • Events where the primary purpose is to raise funds for specific individuals, charities or groups
  • Events that host more than 10% of the event program and/or activities indoors. Note: winter events may include indoor space for people to warm up
  • Events that require membership to observe or participate and are not open to the public
  • Events run by government: City agencies, boards or commissions, educational and post secondary institutions (including student organizations) or political parties

Eligible Expenses

  • Event Insurance
  • Honorariums and wages for workers and artists who are not already employed as staff (event contract staff, artists, performers, and so on)
  • Volunteer support. Examples include: event uniforms, food, equipment and training
  • Production and technical costs related to programming, such as staffing, performers, artists, volunteers
  • Temporary or enhanced infrastructure and/or equipment, such as tents, stages, perimeter fencing, toilets
  • City expenses such as road closures, transit detours, Police personnel, permitting fees, parkland use fees, and other City expenses
  • Safety and Security costs. Examples include: contract security and first aid supplies
  • Development and execution of health and safety, accessibility and sustainability plans
  • Marketing, advertising and communications
  • Other production costs

Ineligible Expenses

  • Capital expenses such as construction, renovations or repairs or purchase of major equipment such as computers, video recorders or power tools
  • Volunteer honorariums or gifts
  • The purchase of alcohol or cannabis or related expenses
  • Allowances or personal expenses for program registrants and participants
  • Organization’s base operational costs including:
    • Salaries and expenses of existing staff
    • Office and administration fees, utilities, rent and/or rental of an applicant's organization facility

Application Process

Before You Start Your Application:

  • Review the eligibility criteria and grant information on this page or the Program Guide
  • Understand the event goals, public benefit and alignment with the City Plan
  • Review the copy of the Application Form questions. Applications cannot be edited once submitted. Any changes need to be sent to eventsmicrogrant@edmonton.ca prior to the application deadline

Required Documents

Send this document directly to eventsmicrogrant@edmonton.ca. Please include your organization name and event name in the email.

Submit Your Application

The City is currently accepting applications for festivals and events. 

The deadline for submission is April 15, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Submit Your Grant Application

Applicants should allow up to 8 weeks after the deadline to receive a decision.

What Happens After Submission?

  • Each applicant will receive a copy of their grant application submission
  • All applications will be evaluated by City staff for completeness, alignment with the program objective and core criteria, and to ensure that the application meets eligibility requirements
  • Applications will be assessed based solely on the contents and information submitted in the application
  • Grant decisions will be provided within 8 weeks of the grant deadline provided we receive a complete application
  • Successful applicants will receive the funds by electronic transfer (EFT) or a cheque, which will be mailed to the address that you provide, within 8 weeks after you’ve been notified of the grant decision

Note: Funding decisions made by the City are final and cannot be appealed.

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants will provide a final report within 90 days of the completion of the festival or event, and must include a summary of the event outcomes and detail how City funds were used. Pictures of the event are strongly encouraged.

Receipt of these reports is a precondition for future eligibility for any City of Edmonton grant program. Final Reports for the Festivals and Events Micro Grant may be considered as part of the assessment of any future applications by the organization to the same grant program.

Wherever possible, recipients are requested to acknowledge funding received from the City of Edmonton Festivals and Events Micro Grant program in related advertising or promotional materials. The City of Edmonton will provide logos as required.

Submit Your Micro Grant Final Report

Grant Recipients

2024 Grant Recipients

2023 Grant Recipients

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m producing more than one festival/event this year. Should I submit an application for each event?

Yes - if each event has a different program content, purpose, dates, and/or location an application (with required documentation) must be submitted for each event.

However, if the event will be hosted in a “series format”, meaning a similar program, on multiple dates and/or in multiple locations, only one application is required for the series of events.

Note: organizations are eligible for a maximum grant award of $10,000 per year regardless of whether the funding supports one festival/event or multiple festivals/events.

Can I apply if I have never organized a public event?

Yes. This funding is available to new event opportunities as well as to those event producers who have organized public events previously.

Can I use grant funding towards eligible expenses incurred prior to approval of my grant application?

Yes. Please identify the expenses that you intend to use the funding towards in your application and in the Event Budget document.

I have applied for other City of Edmonton funding. Can I also apply for the Festivals and Events Micro Grant?

This grant program cannot be combined with the Neighbourhood Services Funding Program or the Community Services Live Active Grant. Events that receive a grant award from those grant programs in the same calendar year are ineligible for the Festivals and Events Micro Grant.

However, if your organization has received other City of Edmonton funding, you may apply for this grant. Please note that grant funding assessment is based on established criteria, including receipt of funding from other City of Edmonton sources. Available funding and financial need will be considered when determining grant awards.

What are the common reasons for unsuccessful applications?

The most common reasons for unsuccessful applications are:

  • Ineligible event and/or budget: the event and/or event budget does not meet the eligibility requirements. Examples include: the event is primarily hosted indoors, fundraising is the primary purpose of the event, anticipated attendance below 100 people, and for-profit organizations.
  • Incomplete documents: Event Budget and Declaration forms not completed and/or not submitted.
  • Incomplete applications: the application lacks sufficient event details regarding the event dates, times, locations, demographic served, purpose, programs, activities, how funding will be used, and so on). Please be as specific as possible when answering the application questions.
  • Event does not meet program priorities and/or objectives: the event does not sufficiently align with the grant program objectives.
If my application is unsuccessful, can I reapply?

Unsuccessful applicants can reapply the following year. Please ensure you fully understand why the application was unsuccessful. If you have questions or would like feedback on your application in order to prepare for a future submission, please contact eventsmicrogrant@edmonton.ca.

Note: The City’s decision is final. However, you can reapply if a second intake is advertised.

How does the City of Edmonton define niche events, cultural events, multicultural events and Indigenous-led/Indigenous serving events?

Niche Festivals and Events: these are specialized and emerging one-time or recurring festivals, events and parades that hold a local, community or neighbourhood profile, encourage community participation, and align with civic priorities. Primarily held on a single day, these events are typically smaller, homegrown, and run by Edmonton-based non-profit associations, volunteer groups, community leagues, and so on. This classification includes local and provincial level sporting events.

Cultural Event: cultural festival programming includes performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, interdisciplinary arts, craft, design and expressions of cultural identity.

Multicultural Event: an event that supports the practice of promoting human and group relations, in which ethnic, racial, religious and linguistic similarities and differences are valued, respected and exchanged.

Indigenous-led/Indigenous Serving Event: these are national, regional or local Indigenous and Indigenous-serving not-for-profit or charitable organizations that operate within Edmonton or serve Indigenous people in Edmonton.