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What you need to know

The National Events Programme is one of EventScotland's core funds. The fund is designed to help deliver the National Events Strategy, Scotland The Perfect Stage. The fund also supports the strategic development of events. It has been created to support live public facing sporting and cultural events. These must take place outwith the local authority areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow. They must also drive domestic tourism within Scotland.

Positive impact

The National Events Programme is designed to support innovative new projects and activity at events. These elements will need to meet the programme criteria. Awards of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available to events. Events will need to align with the key impact areas outlined in our National Events Strategy. They 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 are assessed on their merits. The EventScotland team will look at ways the event will create a positive impact for the host region and Scotland as a whole. Events are assessed on their viability and event management experience as well as the five impact areas:

  • economic, tourism and business
  • brand, identity and reputation
  • media and profile
  • social and cultural
  • sustainability

An event's ability to deliver against these impacts will determine any EventScotland offer.

Application information

Round 50 for applications closed at 5pm on Wednesday 17 January 2024.

Please email apply@eventscotland.org with any queries about the National Events Programme.

Deadline for application

Not currently accepting applications

Download guidance and documents

Download Document Icon

National Events Programme application guidelines.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the guidance

    Applicants to the National Events Programme were asked to download and read the latest guidance and criteria. This was published in December 2023. This included the embedded links to more guidance. It also included a link to the National Events Strategy, Scotland The Perfect Stage.

  2. 2

    Submit an enquiry

    Round 50 for applications closed at 5pm on Wednesday 17 January 2024. 

    Please email any questions or queries to apply@eventscotland.org.

    Submit an enquiry
  3. 3

    Submit your application

    Round 50 closed for applications at 5pm on Wednesday 17 January 2024. The application form was available to download from this page.

    Applicants were asked to complete step 2 before submitting an application. 

    Please note that there are no guarantees that an application will be successful. Each application will be subject to a thorough and competitive assessment process. There is a limited amount of funding available.

  4. 4

    Meet the deadline

    Round 50 for applications closed at 5pm on Wednesday 17 January 2024. This round was for events taking place between 1 April to 31 July 2024 (inclusive).

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