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.
Awards of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available to eligible events.
The fund is designed to:
The National Events Funding Programme operates in “rounds”, each with a budget allocated to support events in Scotland. The rounds open for a set period of time and offer funding to events taking place over specific dates. Deadlines and further information will be published on this site as well as via our social media and e-news.
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Please ensure you apply to the deadline relevant to the date your event will take place:
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National Events Funding Programme webinar
Watch our funding programme webinar delivered by Jennifer Stevenson, Regional Events Partnerships Manager for VisitScotland, and lead on the National Events Programme.
The webinar provides a short overview of the funding programme, including:
Please note, this webinar was originally delivered in 2025. Some details, including application deadlines, may be outdated – please refer to the latest published guidance for current deadlines and assessment timelines.
Performers at Paisley Halloween Festival
© Dylan Glynn
The minimum award is £5,000 and the maximum award is £25,000. The funding requested must not exceed 25% of the overall event income. This means your event income should be no less than £20,000, if applying for the minimum award value.
Events can be supported a maximum of three times with National Events Programme funding.
Eligible events are assessed on the impact areas as well as their viability including event management experience and sound financial planning.
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:
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:
Create positive impacts for the host region and/or Scotland as a whole
Applicants should read the programme criteria and guidelines and consider whether their event may be eligible for support through this programme.
Find out more about the events programme and eligibility, assessment criteria and programme conditions.
Before submitting a funding application, potential applicants must submit a funding enquiry.
A member of the team will share further details on the application process after review of an enquiry.
Once the team has reviewed your enquiry and confirmed that your event is eligible to apply for funding, applicants will be sent a link and further details on how to apply online.
Applicants should aim to submit enquiries as early as possible to allow time to complete the online application process before the deadline.
Upcoming Application Deadlines:
Please note that there is no guarantee of funding after completion of the application process. Outcomes will be shared with applicants in due course and usually within 40-50 working days from the advertised deadline for each round.
Visit International Events Funding Programme for more information. This fund applies to events that deliver significant economic impact, international visits and profile to Scotland.
There are other potential public funding opportunities for events in Scotland.
Find out more about events funding opportunities.
