The Events component provides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, foster discussions on multiculturalism and diversity, address racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community's history and culture.

The program seeks to increase awareness of Canada's cultural diversity, build capacity within communities to address racism and discrimination and raise awareness of issues affecting full participation in society related to culture, ethnicity, or religion.

Funding Priorities:

The program prioritizes initiatives that:

• Counter hate, misinformation and polarization by fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and civic engagement, helping communities recognize misinformation and hate-motivated actions
• Foster human connection and civic participation by bringing communities together through inclusive gatherings, cultural and intergenerational dialogue, and participatory forums that reduce social isolation

Eligible Event Requirements:

Events must:

• Establish concrete opportunities for positive interaction among cultural, religious, or ethnocultural communities
• Demonstrate involvement of more than one community, or target a single community while fostering pride in its history, culture, or identity (such as heritage months recognized by Parliament)
• Foster intercultural or interfaith understanding
• Be open to and intended for the general public

Upcoming Changes for 2026-2027 Fiscal Year:

Events taking place from April 1, 2026 onward will only be accepted during specified intake dates:

• Events: April 1 – July 31, 2026
  Intake: October 15, 2025 (8 am ET) to November 26, 2025 (4 pm ET)
• Events: August 1 – November 30, 2026
  Intake: January 7, 2026 (8 am ET) to February 18, 2026 (4 pm ET)
• Events: December 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
  Intake: April 29, 2026 (8 am ET) to June 10, 2026 (4 pm ET)

Important Application Note:

The Canadian Heritage Funding Portal for the Events component is currently unavailable. Applicants must contact their regional office for Application and Budget Forms and submit by email.

Enhanced Protocols:

Canadian Heritage has implemented enhanced protocols to ensure that organizations adopting racist, antisemitic, or other forms of hateful content are not eligible for government funding.