Experience Ontario 2024 Program
Receive up to $125,000 in Grant Funding.
The Ontario government is investing in funding through the Experience Ontario 2024 program to provide support to in-person festivals and events with a tourism economic impact to motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, reconnect people with local experiences, and increase tourism spending.
Experience Ontario 2024 Program
Amount of Funding
- Tier 1: Tourism festivals or events with cash expenses of $1M or greater will be eligible for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $125,000.
- Tier 2: Tourism festivals or events with cash expenses between $250K – $999K will be eligible for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $55,000.
- Tier 3: Tourism festivals or events with cash expenses less than $250K will be eligible for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $20,000.
Experience Ontario 2024 Program
Eligible Applicants
An applicant may be considered eligible if they fall under the following eligibility requirements:
- Be an Ontario-based entities in existence since January 2022 or before; and
- Have a Canadian bank account in the legal name of the applicant at a Canadian financial institution conducting business in Ontario.
In addition, your festival or event must meet all the following requirements:
- Take place between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, over a minimum of 2 days (one-day festivals or events held on Canada Day are eligible);
- Occur in Ontario;
- Be open to the public at large without membership in a club or group;
- Previous year’s attendance must include tourist attendance at 30% of overall attendance or 5,000 tourists;
- Have been held at least once in the previous three-year period;
- Be promoted to tourists; and
- Follow all municipal and provincial guidelines, including health and safety guidelines.
Experience Ontario 2024 Program
Eligible Activities
To be eligible, projects must meet the following criteria:
- Offer programming that encourages people to travel, experience events in person and celebrate Ontario;
- Draw tourists and increase visitor spending through innovative programming in partnership with businesses and community partners;
- Provide job opportunities for Ontarians in the tourism, culture, and entertainment sectors; and
- Increase Ontarioās profile through media, social media, or broadcast exposure.
Experience Ontario 2024 Program
Program Deadline
Application deadline is January 11, 2024.