The Festivals Investment Scheme supports small-to-mid-scale festivals to deliver high-quality arts experiences for audiences.
It focuses on programmes engaged with, and relevant to, local communities or communities of interest.
Guidelines and templates for our schemes are typically made available two weeks in advance of a scheme opening.
Please make sure to download and read these documents in good time before making an application.
We are holding two online clinics for organisations interested in applying to round 1 of the 2026 Festivals Investment Scheme:
Once you’ve read the related documents for this funding, you can get started on your application.
Before you apply
Plan ahead and allow plenty of time to help submit your completed application before the deadline.
Find out more – Before you apply
Preparing your application
Once you have completed the steps in the Before You Apply section, it’s time to start preparing your application.
Find out more – Preparing your application
Submitting your application
When you’ve completed your application form and gathered your supporting documents, it’s time to submit your application
Find out more – Submitting your application
How we assess your application
We assesses all eligible applications that we receive. Our aim is to make sure that the system for awarding funding is fair and transparent.
Find out more – How we assess your application
After your application is assessed – what happens next
You will be notified by email to let you know if your application has been successful or not.
Find out more – After your application is assessed – what happens next
Disability access supports
We want our funding schemes and the work we support to be accessible to everyone. To help us do this, we offer some key disability access supports.
Find out more – Disability access supports