Planning a business event in Victoria this year? Whether as part of this year's DIF2023 Festival or another of the 50 weeks - grants programs open for a limited time.

Victoria’s calendar of major events delivered $2.5 billion in economic value for the state in 2019 and this year we're back to business  

Applications are now open offering eligible event organisers grants to offset costs for hosting events anywhere in Victoria.

Victoria’s National Business Events Program

Designed to give a helping hand to domestic business event organisers.

With a focus on domestic association conferences, trade exhibitions, workshops and seminars, as well as corporate meetings and incentive group events with a business event program, funding is available to offset actual costs for hosting their events in Victoria.

Cash grants offered can be put towards accommodation, venue hire, transport and other event cost such as marketing and promotion.

There are two funding streams available – for events to be held in Melbourne and for events held in regional Victoria.

Applications are now open. Grants are available for a limited time with applications closing 5pm (AEDT) 3 March 2023.

For events to be held in Melbourne

Supported by the Melbourne Convention Bureau, the Melbourne events stream of the program provides eligible event organisers funding up to $80,000 to support actual costs for hosting their event in Melbourne, including accommodation, venue hire, transport and other event costs.

Grants of up to $80,000 ($80.00 per delegate for up to 1,000 delegates) are available to event organisers that commit to holding a business event in Melbourne

For further details please refer to the National Business Event Program Guidelines – Melbourne.

For events to be held in Regional Victoria

The regional arm of the program supported by Business Events Victoria, will provide funding to event organisers for hosting new business events held in regional Victoria.

The program provides eligible event organisers funding up to $40,000 to support actual costs for hosting their event in regional Victoria, including accommodation, venue hire, transport and other event costs.

Grants up to $40,000 ($80.00 per delegate for up to 500 delegates) for a business event held in regional Victoria.

For further details please refer to the National Business Event Program Guidelines – Regional Victoria.*

For events to be held in Melbourne suburbs

Applications for the Small and Medium Events Program are now open, encouraging more spending across the city and surrounds to help drive the state’s economic recovery.

Building on the significant success of Victoria’s blockbuster major events calendar, the program provides grants to support suburban events and helps organisers to cover the costs associated with them – including venue hire, performer fees, staffing and marketing.

The Victorian Government is backing more events across Melbourne’s suburbs, with a $3 million grant program to attract more visitors to local events, support more jobs and boost local businesses.

Grants are available from $5,000 to $25,000 for organisers of small events (1,000 – 4,999 attendees) and from $25,000 to $50,000 to support the staging of medium events (5,000 – 10,000 attendees).

Backing local communities by attracting more visitors to experience the best Melbourne’s suburbs have to offer, the initiative will see more small and medium sized events taking place across the city.  

This program will support a diverse range of activities including cultural, sporting and creative events, helping create ongoing jobs across the industry and connecting organisers with local businesses and suppliers.

To be eligible, the event must be outside Melbourne City Council in a Local Government Area in Greater Melbourne and be held between 1 June 2023 and 31 December 2023.

To find out more about the Program and to apply, visit business.vic.gov.au/small-and-medium-events-program.

Applications close on 28 February 2023. 
Find out more information and apply via the Business Victoria website.+

Be part of this year's DIF Festival

Melbourne and regional events are all eligible to be part of the annual Digital Innovation Futures Festival. Schedule your event between 23 August and 6 September and be part of the DIF2023. This is the 8th year we bring together tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and digital innovators from across the country. 

Start Here to find out more or submit an EOI today and let us know your plans.

All are welcome to make the DIF.

Material originally published 

*Melbourne Convention Bureau on 8 February 2023
+DJSIR News on 1 February 2023