Deadline Date: December 16, 2025
Applications are now open for Experience Ontario Program to provide support for festivals and events with a tourism economic impact.
The focus areas of this opportunity are the programming that encourages people to travel, experience events in-person and celebrate Ontario; the ability to draw tourists and increase visitor spending through innovative programming in partnership with businesses and community partners; the provision of job opportunities for Ontarians in the tourism, culture and entertainment sectors; and the aim to increase Ontario’s profile through various media channels.
The Experience Ontario 2026 program provides funding through the Established Events Stream using a three-tier model based on an organization’s previous year’s actual festival or event cash expense total. Signature tourism festivals or events with total event cash expenses of $1 million or greater are eligible for up to 50 percent of eligible cash expenses to a maximum of $125,000. Emerging tourism festivals or events with cash expenses between $250,000 and $999,999 may receive up to 50 percent of eligible cash expenses to a maximum of $55,000. Community tourism festivals or events with total event cash expenses of less than $250,000 are eligible for up to 50 percent of eligible cash expenses to a maximum of $20,000.
Eligible organizations may submit up to two applications for this intake, including a maximum of one submission to the Established Events Stream and one submission to the Capacity Building Stream. Each application must relate to a separate and distinct event, and both must meet the eligibility requirements of their respective streams. Only one organization within a group of affiliated organizations may submit applications, and affiliation is defined through control, shared ownership or corporate relationships as outlined in the program rules. Multiple location events qualify as one event only where programming is marketed and delivered as a consolidated festival or event, with visitor experiences spanning several locations during defined consecutive days.
For more information, visit Government of Ontario.
