Introduction
The Multicultural Festivals and Events (MFE) Program offers grants to help multicultural communities run events that bring people together and celebrate our shared diversity.
The program has two objectives:
- Program objective 1: To help Victorians celebrate and preserve cultures, and share traditions
- Program objective 2: To encourage all Victorians to take part in cultural events and develop understanding and respect for different cultures.
This program is:
- open – any community organisation that meets the criteria can apply
- discretionary – funding depends on how much money is available
- merit-based – applications are assessed on their strength and how well they meet the program objectives
- competitive – there is no guarantee you will receive funding or the full amount you request.
Key dates
Round 1 applications
19 March to 17 April 2026
- Applications opened Friday 19 March 2026.
- Applications closed Friday 17 April 2026 at 3 pm.
- Recipients must hold events between 1 July 2026 and 31 December 2026.
- The department will publish successful outcomes and notify applicants in:
- End of June 2026 - for July to September 2026 events
- End of September 2026 - for October to December 2026 events.
Round 2 applications
31 July to 31 August 2026
- Applications open 31 July 2026.
- Applications will close 31 August 2026
- Recipients must hold events between 1 January 2027 and 30 June 2027.
- The department will publish successful outcomes and notify applicants in:
- End of December 2026 – for January to March 2027 events.
- End of February 2027 – for April to June 2027 events.
Important: Organisations can receive funding for one event in the 2026-27 financial year, either for an event between July – December 2026 or an event between January – June 2027.
For example, if your organisation is approved for an event between July – December 2026, you will not be eligible to apply for an event between January – June 2027. This helps to ensure fair distribution and wider access of MFE funding to support more groups.
What types of grants are available?
Grants of up to $50,000 are available. The program has three funding streams to support activities that meet the program’s objectives:
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