Local Events Open Fund 2026/27

Overview

To support the aims of the Edinburgh Event Strategy, the City of Edinburgh Council launched the Local Events Open Fund in 2025. The Local Events Open Fund 2026/27 will expand upon the success of the initial year and will offer the opportunity of multi-year funding to support the longer-term sustainability of Edinburgh's creative sector.

This Fund underlines the Council’s commitment to the local creative sector and will support events that demonstrate:

Commitment to communities;
Display environmental responsibility; and
Apply fair work and equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

Priority will be given to events held outside of the City Centre Ward but not to the exclusion of those held in central Edinburgh. The Council welcomes applications from a range of event disciplines and would encourage applicants to explore all funding options to ensure that the Local Events Open fund is the most appropriate.

To apply, please submit the form by 23:59 on 8 March 2026. For any enquiries, please contact events@edinburgh.gov.uk

Please note: Your submission will require the completion of an accurate budget, using the template below. Please download before proceeding.

What happens next

Following the closure of the application period, an independent panel will review all submissions and applicants should expect to receive an outcome on Monday 6 April 2026.

Closed 8 Mar 2026

Opened 6 Feb 2026

Results expected 14 Apr 2026

Contact

events@edinburgh.gov.uk

Events

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Amenity groups
  • Architects/designers
  • Built heritage groups
  • Businesses
  • Carers
  • Children & Young People
  • Civil and public servants
  • Community councils
  • Council tenants
  • Developers/investors
  • Development management statutory consultees
  • Development planning key agencies
  • Education institutions
  • Elected Members
  • Employees
  • External councils
  • Homeless People
  • Housing associations
  • Jobseekers
  • Landowners
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual people, Transgender people (LGBT)
  • Libraries
  • Licence applicants
  • Licence holders
  • Low income households
  • Men
  • Minority Ethnic groups
  • Natural heritage/open space
  • Neighbourhood partnerships
  • Older people
  • Parents/carers
  • People with disabilities
  • People with long term conditions
  • Planning consultants
  • Professional bodies
  • Professionals
  • Residents
  • Road users
  • Scottish Government departments
  • Services/utilities
  • Students
  • Taxi Licence holders
  • Teaching/Educational staff
  • Transport groups
  • Visitors
  • Voluntary sector/volunteers
  • Women
  • Young people

Interests

  • Arts and culture