Ireland Festivals Investment Scheme 2027 Round 2: Up to €45,000 for Local Arts and Music Festivals
Round 2 begins on October 20—not before
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon has published the schedule for Festivals Investment Scheme 2027, Round 2. Applications open on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and close on Thursday 19 November 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Ireland local time. As of this article's verification date of 19 October, Round 2 is announced but its opening date has not yet arrived. Applicants can already study the published guidance and prepare documents, then use the official funding portal once the new round opens.
The scheme helps small-to-mid-scale festivals bring high-quality arts experiences to local audiences and communities of interest. Contemporary or traditional music, jazz, experimental programming and multidisciplinary festivals may be relevant if the actual programme fits the guidelines. It is not a prize for an individual songwriter, nor a guaranteed fee for every band seeking festival exposure.
Who applies, and why local context matters
The scheme's official funding summary identifies the applicant type as an **organisation**. That means an artist proposing an event without a viable festival organisation should not assume they can claim the award in their own name. Applicants need to demonstrate an authentic festival programme, audience relevance, governance, budgets and relationships with the communities that the event will serve.
The Arts Council places particular emphasis on festivals that are engaged with and relevant to local communities. A proposal can describe artistic ambition and national or international visiting performers, but its core benefits should remain grounded in the Irish festival scene, real partners and a planned experience for participating audiences. A purely commercial tour or one-night performance should not be presented automatically as a qualifying arts festival.
The €45,000 figure is a ceiling, not a fixed fee
Round 2's publicly displayed maximum award is €45,000. Applicants may receive less than their requested amount, or no award, after competitive review. The programme's PDF guidelines define the fundable activity, evaluation criteria and supported cost types. Festival organisers should avoid assigning the whole €45,000 figure to performer wages before identifying production, access, administrative, insurance and audience-development expenses.
A reliable festival proposal has a credible financial plan distinguishing confirmed income, forecast ticket sales, other grants and the support being requested from the Arts Council. The official site also provides a festival-development-plan template, memorandum-of-understanding template and a document for disability access-related costs. These are particularly useful for music festivals with multiple venues and artists.
Preparing an application that a funder can assess
Applicants should prepare an annual artistic programme and a clear rationale for its relevance to the community, alongside a realistic event calendar, venue relationships, information on artists and other collaborators, governance details and a balanced budget. Consider the environmental implications of touring, accessibility, fair payment to participants and ways to reach audiences who have not attended before.
Study the *2027 Festivals Investment Scheme, Round 2 Guidelines* on the official site instead of reusing an application from a previous year. A festival's planned funding period, eligible legal entity and documentation requirements may change between rounds. Meeting the deadline does not replace satisfying all those conditions.
A traceable national funding body and direct link
The Arts Council is Ireland's national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts. It publishes an annual funding schedule, current guidelines, previous scheme decisions and official contact addresses. This institutional record lets organisers check that a request is genuine without paying a third party promising automatic access to government funding. Its official programme page offers the specific Round 2 guidelines and the submission gateway.
Official round: https://artscouncil.ie/funding-opportunities/festivals-investment-scheme-round-2/ . Enquiries: festivals@artscouncil.ie or +353 1 618 0200. Opens 20 October 2026; closes 19 November 2026 at 17:30 Ireland time. Organiser information verified on 19 October 2026.