VisitScotland has launched Round 55 of the National Events Programme, offering financial support to public-facing events taking place in Scotland between Wednesday 1 April 2026 – Wednesday 31 March 2027.
The programme aims to strengthen Scotland’s events sector by enhancing visitor experiences, increasing tourism, and supporting local economies, and is part of the broader Events Industry Development Programme, aiming to support Scotland’s events sector in line with the National Events Strategy, “Scotland The Perfect Stage 2024 – 2035”.
Funding awards typically range £5,000 – £25,000, with applications assessed on criteria including event scale, audience reach, and promotional plans. Eligible applicants include legally constituted organisations delivering events which align with VisitScotland’s strategic priorities, such as sustainability, community engagement, and economic impact.
Application Deadline and How to Apply
Round 55 will operate 2 deadlines. Applicants should ensure they apply to the deadline relevant to the date their event will take place:
- Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 2pm for events taking place April – September 2026
- Wednesday 14 January 2026 at 2pm for events taking place September – December 2026
Before submitting a funding application, potential applicants must submit a funding enquiry via the VisitScotland website (linked for your convenience).
A member of the EventScotland team will share further details on the application process after review of an enquiry. Once EventScotland has reviewed your enquiry and confirmed that your event is eligible to apply for funding, applicants will be sent a link and further details on how to apply online.
Information Webinar
As part of the programme, VisitScotland is holding a free online webinar exploring Round 55 of the National Events Funding Programme.
Taking place on Tuesday 7 October 2025, from 3pm –4pm, the session will be delivered via Microsoft Teams by Jennifer Stevenson, Events Manager and Programme Lead. Attendees will learn more about the funding programme’s objectives, eligibility criteria, application and assessment processes, and have the opportunity to ask questions.
For further information on the information webinar, including how to book your place, please visit the news article on the CVS Falkirk & District website.
Further Information and Support
For full guidance and eligibility criteria, please visit the dedicated Events and Festivals Funding page, or refer to VisitScotland’s National Events Programme Round 55 document.
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