Two New England events are among 56 regional festivals to receive NSW Government funding through the 2026–27 Regional Event Fund.
The Gravel n Granite mountain bike festival in Tenterfield and The Big Chill Festival in Armidale will receive support under the program, which is providing more than $1.3 million in grants across regional NSW.
“The Minns Labor Government is investing in regional NSW tourism, because we understand that when we get visitors into our regions, they stay longer and spend more in our great state.” said Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper.
“64 million visitors. $27 billion in visitor expenditure. Regional NSW isn’t just holding its own, it’s leading the country. And this government is determined to keep it that way.
“These events are the heartbeat of their communities, and the Minns Labor Government is proud to back them.”
Administered by Destination NSW, the Regional Event Fund offers grants of up to $50,000 to assist with marketing, public relations, infrastructure and equipment hire. The government said the funding is designed to help regional events attract visitors and support local economies.
The announcement follows the release of Tourism Research Australia data showing regional NSW remained Australia’s largest regional visitor destination in the year ended March 2026.
According to the data, more than 64 million domestic and international visitors travelled to regional NSW during the period, spending more than $27 billion. The NSW Government has set a target of increasing regional visitor expenditure to $44 billion by 2035.
The Regional Event Fund has operated since 1996. The government said it has supported more than 650 events with more than $17 million in funding, including the Deni Ute Muster and the Parkes Elvis Festival.
A full list of successful projects is available at www.destinationnsw.com.au/regional-event-fund-2026-27.
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