VisitScotland - National Events Programme
Details
The National Events Programme is one of VisitScotland's core funding programmes. The fund supports the strategic development of live public-facing sporting and cultural events in line with the aims of the National Events Strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage.
Eligible events take place outwith the local authority areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow and can demonstrate their role in showcasing regions and driving domestic tourism around Scotland.
The Programme is designed to support innovative new projects and activity at events. Events will need to align with the key impact areas outlined in our National Events Strategy and must also have delivery budgets of more than £20,000 and attract over 1,000 in-person attendees. Finally, they must showcase Scotland’s key event and tourism assets.
Events looking to apply to the National Events Funding Programme must:
- Identify relevant strategic development activity for funding support
- Take place in Scotland and outside the local authority areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Drive domestic tourism within Scotland i.e. encourage residents of Scotland to travel and attend your event
Align with the five impact areas:
- economic – tourism and business
- brand, identity and reputation
- media and profile
- social and cultural and environmental sustainability
The ability of events to deliver against these event impacts determines the support VisitScotland can offer.
- Have delivery budgets of more than £20,000
- Attract in total over 1,000 in-person attendees
- Showcase Scotland’s key event and tourism assets: our people; our cultural identity and heritage; our natural environment; our built facilities; our signature events; our academic and sectoral credentials.
- Create positive impacts for the host region and/or Scotland as a whole
Premium information is available exclusively to SCVO members and supporters
Geographical areas funded: Scotland
Fund type
- Type of funding:
- Grant
- Type of cost:
- Revenue
Fund award sizes
- Minimum:
- Premium information
- Maximum:
- Premium information
- Notes on award amounts:
- Premium information
Who can apply
Applications must be made by legally constituted organisations. Alternatively, eligible groups will have a management committee, constitution and their own bank account.
See event eligibility criteria in fund guidance for more detail.
When to apply
Currently open for applications.
Round 57: Monday 5 October at 2pm – for eligible events taking place from June-September (inclusive) 2027
Next deadline: 5 Oct 2026
How to apply
If you are interested in applying to this programme, submit an enquiry via the VisitScotland website (https://support.visitscotland.org/advice-support/support-by-sector/events-festivals/funding/national) and a member of the team will contact you.
Exclusions
Activites funded: Arts and culture Sport and physical activity Recreation and social activities
Beneficiaries funded: General public
Last reviewed 3 months ago
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