This fund supports mature events that have already received maximum Flagship Event funding and can present a comprehensive strategy for future growth as drivers of tourism.

The Regional Event Fund identifies and supports events in regional NSW that have the potential to act as a 'cornerstone' or flagship tourism event for their area by attracting overnight visitation and delivering long term benefits to the region.

The Regional Event Fund comprises 3 individual funding streams providing a development pipeline for events from inception, through emergence, to their establishment as tourism events in Regional NSW.

This page provides information on the Event Development stream. Guidelines for the Incubator Event stream and the Flagship Event stream are available separately.

The Event Development stream supports events that have previously received the maximum funding permitted through the Flagship Event stream and can present a comprehensive strategy for future growth that includes the continued development of its tourism potential to drive overnight visitation to the event.

The Event Development stream will offer one-off grants of up to $50,000 (ex GST) to events in Regional NSW to support key strategic growth initiatives that will have a direct impact on increasing overnight visitation to the event. A clear strategic rationale will be required for all initiatives together with a justification for the amount requested.

Before commencing an application, applicants must contact Destination NSW to discuss submission timeframes and confirm their eligibility for the program via email on grants.admin@dnsw.com.au

Event Development funding is only open to events that have previously received and completed triennial funding through the Flagship event stream.

To be eligible to apply for any of the three streams of the Regional Event Fund, applicants must agree or warrant that:

• they are the event owner (i.e. own the rights to the event and hold the relevant approvals for the event) at the time of application and contract
• they are financially solvent or financially viable and able to demonstrate that they are likely to remain so over the duration of the funding period
• they have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• they are a sole trader, company, partnership, unincorporated and incorporated associations, or company trust entity
• they own a certificate of currency for at least $20 million public liability insurance, or evidence of ability to secure before entering into a funding agreement
• the recipient must be a legal entity and not a business name.

To be eligible for the Event Development Fund subcategory, your event must:

• take place between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027
• have previously received and completed triennial funding through the Flagship Event stream
• be held in one of the seven Destination Networks.

The Destination Networks include:

• Destination Central West
• Destination Country & Outback NSW
• Destination North Coast incl. Lord Howe Island
• Destination Riverina Murray
• Destination Southern NSW
• Destination Sydney Surrounds North

Please note: the Local Government Areas of Penrith, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Wollondilly are no longer included in the above Destination Networks.

• Email: grants.admin@dnsw.com.au