THE city council is inviting organisations in Leicester to come forward with proposals for high quality festivals and events that might be eligible for grant funding.
The council has put into place a new grant commissioning process to encourage applicants to submit proposals that will contribute to the council’s festivals and events calendar for 2026-27.
The existing grant scheme, which is administered by the council’s festivals and events team, has supported a wide range of festivals and events in the city including Leicester Comedy Festival, Leicester Mela, Cosmopolitan Arts Festival, Journeys Festival and Leicester Pride.
These run alongside the council’s own flagship events that include Old Town Festival, Riverside Festival and the award-winning Light Up Leicester.
Graham Callister, the council’s head of festivals, events and cultural policy said: “This refreshed grants programme offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of what Leicester has to offer. We’re backing ambitious, high-quality festivals that bring people together, ignite creativity and celebrate everything that makes our city distinctive.
“We want events to be designed together with communities and built on genuine collaboration — making the most of our public spaces while highlighting the incredible talent, diversity and creativity that defines Leicester.
“By investing in bold ideas and shared experiences, we can strengthen local pride and belonging, while attracting national and international visitors to discover a city alive with culture, confidence and celebration.”
A range of grants are available, from £2,500 to a maximum of £20,000 to support up to 50% of the event costs. To apply, organisations must complete an application form, be based within Leicester and be legally constituted.
More information is available on the city council’s website
Interested applicants can email festivalgrants@leicester.gov.uk