Introduction
Victoria is Australia’s most multicultural state. Multiculturalism is part of who we are, and something we celebrate. We host a variety of culturally significant events throughout the year. The Multicultural Festivals and Events (MFE) Program supports some of these events. It showcases cultural diversity in the Victorian community to unite and celebrate differences.
The program offers grants up to $50,000 to support activities that promote and foster social cohesion. It has 2 objectives:
- program objective 1: to ensure Victorians can celebrate and preserve cultures, and share traditions
- program objective 2: to encourage the broader Victorian community to take part in events that further learning, understanding and respect for different cultures and traditions – funding will prioritise regional and rural communities, and new and emerging communities.
More than $1 million is available over 2025–26, through the Regional Multicultural Festivals and Events Fund (RMFEF). The RMFEF supports regional multicultural community organisations and any metropolitan organisations that deliver events across regional Victoria.
This will be the third allocation of funding from the $5 million investment towards regional multicultural festivals and events over a 4-year period.
The RMFEF aims to:
- attract even more visitors to regional Victoria
- provide support to regional multicultural organisations so they can celebrate and share their culture.
The 2025–26 MFE Program is a grants program that is:
- open
- discretionary
- merit-based.
The Multicultural Affairs branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet administers the program.
Important information to consider includes:
- The 2025-26 MFE Program has 2 funding rounds:
- Round 1 is for events from July to December 2025
- Round 2 is for events from January to June 2026.
- Organisations can receive funding for one event in the 2025-26 financial year:
- either an event between July – December 2025 or an event between January – June 2026. For example, if your organisation is approved for an event between July – December 2025, you will not be eligible to apply for an event between January – June 2026. This will ensure fair distribution and wider access of MFE funding to support more groups.
- Applications should not assume they will receive funding, nor the level of funding requested.
- Funding allocations will be determined by the strength of the application and alignment with the MFE objectives.
- Events previously funded are not guaranteed to receive funding, and the amount of funding may vary.
- Due to the competitive nature of the program, we may allocate less than the requested amount to successful applicants. You should plan for contingencies and consider other funding sources and options in case your application is unsuccessful or only partially funded.
- Organisations can only submit one application per funding round. The department will only assess one application per organisation in each round. Extra applications are not assessed. Auspice organisations can support an unlimited number of applications (see ‘Auspiced applications’ for more information).
- Avoid assuming you are successful or entering into financial or other commitments until you are formally notified of the outcome of your application.
- Recipients of government funding for a multicultural event in the same activity period for 2025–2026 will not be eligible to apply for the MFE competitive program
Submit applications online at MFE Program.
Timelines
Round 1 applications
18 March to 17 April 2025
- Applications open Tuesday 18 March 2025.
- Applications close Thursday 17 April 2025 at 3 pm – the department will not accept late applications.
- Recipients must hold events between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2025.
- The department will publish successful outcomes and notify applicants in:
- June 2025 - for July to September 2025 events
- September 2025 - for October to December 2025.
Round 2 applications
September - October 2025
- Applications will open in September 2025 and close in October 2025 (set dates will be provided when the round is announced in September 2025).
- Recipients must hold events between 1 January 2026 and 30 June 2026.
- The department will publish successful outcomes and notify applicants in:
- December 2025 – for January to March 2026 events
- February 2026 – for April to June 2026.
What grants are available?
An organisation can apply for one grant for their festival or event, within one of the following 3 funding streams:
Small stream (see ‘Small stream up to $5,000)’
| Organisation type | Minimum attendance (people) | Required match funding ratio (organisation: grant) | In-kind | Grant funding available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan organisation or event | 100 | No matched funding required | Nil | Up to $5,000 |
| New and emerging organisation, or rural and regional organisation or event | 50 | No matched funding required | Nil | Up to $5,000 |
Medium stream (see ‘Medium stream $5,001 to $15,000)‘
| Organisation type | Minimum attendance (people) | Required match funding ratio (organisation: grant) | In-kind | Grant funding available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan organisation or event | 250 | No matched funding required | Nil | Between $5,001 and $15,000 |
New and emerging organisation or rural and regional organisation | 100 | No matched funding required | Nil | Between $5,001 and $15,000[1] |
Large stream (see ‘Large stream $15,001 to $50,000)‘
| Organisation type | Minimum attendance (people) | Required match funding ratio (organisation: grant) | In-kind | Grant funding available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan organisation or event | 1,500 | $1:$1 | 50% matched funding can be provided in-kind | Between $15,001 and $50,000[2] |
| New and emerging organisation, or rural and regional organisation or event | 600 | $1:$3 Not required for rural and regional organisations or event. | 100% matched funding can be provided in-kind | Between $15,001 and $50,000 |
[1] Organisations are eligible for funding as per the attendance funding thresholds (see ‘Medium stream attendance and funding thresholds’).
[2] Organisations are eligible for funding as per the attendance and matched funding thresholds (see ‘Large stream attendance and funding thresholds’).
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