Funding is available to support regional events that drive visitation and strengthen the visitor economy across regional NSW.

The Regional Event Fund (REF) provides grants to help new, emerging and established events attract visitors, grow overnight stays and contribute to the regional visitor economy.

With a four-week application window, event organisers are encouraged to begin preparing their application now and allow time to gather supporting information, data and endorsements.

Eligible events must be held between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.

Applications close 11:59pm (AEST) Sunday 12 April 2026 for the Incubator and Flagship streams.

Grant writing webinar

Destination Southern will host a grant writing information session to assist event organisers in presenting their projects with clarity and confidence.

The webinar will provide an overview of the program, key eligibility considerations and an opportunity to ask questions. It will also cover how to structure a strong submission and practical approaches to financials, risk, marketing and supporting documentation, including letters of support. Registrations essential.

Date: Wednesday 25 March
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Incubator Event stream

Supports new events in their first or second year, providing seed funding to help establish events that attract visitors to regional NSW.

Grants of up to $20,000 (ex GST)

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 12 April 2026

Flagship Event stream

Supports emerging events with a track record of more than two years, helping grow event profile and attract visitors from outside the local area.

Funding options include:

Annual grant – $20,000 (ex GST)

Triennial grant – $30,000 per year for three years (ex GST)

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 12 April 2026

Event Development stream

Supports established events that have previously completed triennial funding through the Flagship stream and are seeking to implement strategic growth initiatives.

Grants of up to $50,000 (ex GST)

Applications close 31 December 2026, or until funds are exhausted

Strong applications clearly connect event outcomes with regional visitation and economic impact.

Consider including evidence such as:

Visitor numbers and audience growth

Overnight visitation

Regional economic impact

Alignment with tourism and economic development strategies

Letters of support

Destination Southern is unable to provide letters of support for the Regional Event Fund.

However, event organisers are encouraged to seek letters from:

Local councils

Tourism operators and accommodation providers

Regional businesses and industry partners

These endorsements can help demonstrate the regional impact and community support behind your event.

Event organisers are encouraged to engage with council tourism or economic development teams early, as gathering data, statistics and letters of support can take time. 

A range of resources are available to support your application:

Destination Southern Event Development

Meetings & Events Development Pathway

Understanding the Events Landscape

Becoming Event-Ready

Designing Visitor & Community Experiences

Marketing and Promotion

Sustainability, Inclusion & Legacy

Industry Bodies & Marketing Platforms

Destination NSW

NSW First Program

How to stand out from the crowd

Promoting your visitor experience

How to sell bookable tourism products

Additional resources

Event Starter Guide

NSW Events Starter Guide 

Event Organiser Toolkit

Toolkit for Accessible and Inclusive Events

While Destination Southern cannot provide formal letters of support for REF applications, our team is happy to assist by:

Providing guidance on positioning your event within the visitor economy

Suggesting relevant data sources

Identifying strategic alignment opportunities

Connecting you with local council or industry contacts

If you are considering applying, we encourage you to reach out to your Industry Development Manager early in the process.

Jenny Robb

Industry Development Manager | South Coast and Snowies

jenny.robb@dsnsw.com.au

Jessica Bryden

Industry Development Manager | Southern Tablelands

jessica.bryden@dsnsw.com.au

For further information about the Regional Event Fund, visit the Destination NSW website or contact the Grants Administration team at
grants.admin@dnsw.com.au