Event Funding and Support

The Major Events Bidding Fund has been set up by the South Australian Government and committed to Events South Australia to secure, support or develop new major events for the state.

Major events are those which generate significant benefits for the state and align with wider government and tourism strategic priorities. They are typically world-class with visitation from international and national audiences and provide a strong media profile for the state, often including national and international broadcast. 

The Major Events Bidding Fund has proudly supported a diverse range of major events such as

• ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
• Australian Swimming Championships
• 2015 AFL Draft
• Mundine v Green II
• Adelaide Fringe in Mt Gambier
• Lifesaving World Championships Adelaide 2018
• Australian Scouts Jamboree

Please read our major event sponsorship guidelines below for detailed information about the funding process.

For more information contact the Business Development Manager on +61 8 8463 4700 or esa@sa.gov.au

Our Regional Events and Festivals Program provides financial support towards marketing and PR for events that promote South Australia and its regions as tourism destinations.

Applications for funding through the 2019-20 round have now closed. Applications for the 2020-21 funding round will open in January 2020.

Those wishing to apply for funding in 2020-21 are encouraged to review the Regional Events and Festivals Program funding guidelines prior to submitting an application.

To apply, go to the Events South Australia funding portal.

For more information contact the Sponsored Events Executive on +61 8 8463 4650 or esa@sa.gov.au

The Community Events Development Fund provides up to $5,000 +GST in financial support towards events that promote South Australia and its regions as tourism destinations.

This fund has similar criteria to the Regional Events and Festivals Program but supports new, smaller or community-based events seeking to increase their tourism relevance, or undertake a specific project to achieve this.

Applications for funding through the 2019-20 round have now closed. Applications for the 2020-21 funding round will open in January 2020.

Those wishing to apply for funding in 2020-21 are encouraged to review the Community Events Development Fund guidelines prior to submitting an application.

To apply, go to the Events South Australia funding portal.

For more information contact the Sponsored Events Executive on +61 8 8463 4650 or esa@sa.gov.au

Events South Australia does not provide funding support to:

• Trade and industry events – such as symposiums, exhibitions, education events, conferences.
• New Year’s Eve celebrations or Christmas pageants
• Charity or fundraising activities
• Club rallies or reunions
• Performances, concerts, markets, tours, open gardens, open days
• Rotational events. NB: Events which occur on a rotational basis with other regions or states will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Before applying for funding through Events South Australia's sponsorship opportunities, it is important for event managers to consider the application criteria and whether the funding stream is appropriate for their needs.

There are a number of alternative funding opportunities available through a range of local, state and federal government bodies. For more information surrounding alternative funding options, visit the GRANTassist website.

We also have a range of free resources and tools available to support your event. Access industry contacts, event templates and more here. Check our Industry Events page regularly for details of upcoming event workshops.