Journal · News · 28 September 2026 · four minutes
Multicultural event funding for 2027 is open.
Canadian Heritage opened the first 2027 intake of its Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (MARP), Events component, on 15 September 2026. It closes on 27 October 2026 at 4 pm ET and covers events held from 1 April to 31 July 2027. Community events between 1 August and 30 November 2027 apply in the next intake, from 13 January to 24 February 2027.
Written by the Capital Cultures organisers · sources on canada.ca
What changed this fortnight.
Federal money for multicultural events in 2027 comes in three windows, and the first closes in four weeks. For an Ottawa community association, this calendar decides when the paperwork happens.
Canadian Heritage · page updated 15 September 2026
The Events component pays for public events that, in the program's words, "establish concrete opportunities for positive interaction among cultural, religious or ethnocultural communities". Canadian not-for-profits, associations and unincorporated groups can apply, along with Indigenous not-for-profits and governments and municipalities of up to 10,000 people (Canadian Heritage, Events component).
Two days ago the same program put $20,000 into an intercultural event in Ottawa.
Three intakes, matched to event dates.
An organisation picks the intake by the date of its event.
Canadian Heritage · MARP Events · 2027–2028 intakes
| Your event takes place | Intake opens | Intake closes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April – 31 July 2027 | 15 September 2026, 8 am ET | 27 October 2026, 4 pm ET |
| 1 August – 30 November 2027 | 13 January 2027, 8 am ET | 24 February 2027, 4 pm ET |
| 1 December 2027 – 31 March 2028 | 12 May 2027, 8 am ET | 22 June 2027, 4 pm ET |
Spring and early summer 2027 events are in the open window now. Summer events from August onwards, and early autumn ones, belong to the January intake, which leaves a board the autumn to gather its documents.
How much, and what it pays for.
The Events component funds up to $100,000 per event in a fiscal year, and up to $200,000 per application for a recurring event over two fiscal years. Total support from all levels of government stays at or under 100% of the event's eligible costs.
Application guidelines · Events component
Costs the program can cover
- Salaries, consultant and performer fees
- Volunteer support and liability insurance
- Translation into the official languages
- Communications and facility rental
- Administration, up to 15% of the funding
Costs it leaves out
- Food and beverages
- Capital, start-up and profit-making costs
- International travel
- Anything spent before Canadian Heritage receives the application
- Events of a religious, political, commercial or private nature
Applications go by email to the regional office. Canadian Heritage acknowledges receipt within two weeks and publishes a decision standard of 26 weeks for this program. If that clock runs from the 24 February close, it ends in late August 2027, so a board planning a summer event should build its budget knowing the answer may arrive close to the day. (application guidelines; decision standards).
The Ottawa precedent, dated 26 September.
The Government of Canada announced $20,000 from the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program for Nuit Blanche Ottawa's event «Dialogues lumineux: Cultures en conversation contre le racisme».
Canadian Heritage news release · Ottawa, 26 September 2026
The release describes panels, workshops, activities and artwork developed with eight embassies from Europe, Africa and the Americas, as part of the celebrations for Ottawa's 200th anniversary. Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier–Gloucester, made the announcement on behalf of Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture (Canadian Heritage news release).
This funding will help ensure this event continues to grow, strengthening Ottawa's dynamic cultural communities.
What a community board can prepare now.
Most of the file is paperwork a board already holds.
The application guidelines' list of required documents
- Letters patent, bylaws and the list of directors; an unincorporated group sends its terms of reference and an acceptance-of-liability form.
- The most recent financial statements, audited where they exist.
- A balanced budget on the program's template, with food and drink left out.
- Letters of support from partners, where you have them.
Whether a community's programme inside a larger festival qualifies on its own is Canadian Heritage's call. The Ontario regional office answers at multiontario-ontariomulti@pch.gc.ca and 1-866-811-0055.
How this festival is financed, and what a public funder can ask to see, is on the funders page.
Questions.
The ones community boards ask first about this program.
Answers from the published guidelines
When is the MARP Events deadline for 2027?
For events from 1 April to 31 July 2027 the intake closes on 27 October 2026 at 4 pm ET. For events from 1 August to 30 November 2027 it runs from 13 January to 24 February 2027. For events from 1 December 2027 to 31 March 2028 it runs from 12 May to 22 June 2027.
How much multicultural event funding can one organisation get?
Up to $100,000 per event per fiscal year, or up to $200,000 per application for a recurring event over two fiscal years. Support from all governments together stays at or under 100% of eligible costs.
Can the grant pay for food at a community event?
Food and beverages are listed as ineligible expenses. Performer fees, volunteer support, liability insurance, translation, communications and facility rental are eligible.
How long does a funding decision take?
Canadian Heritage publishes a decision standard of 26 weeks for the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program and acknowledges receipt within two weeks. Costs incurred before the application is received cannot be funded.
Bring your community to one field.
A pavilion here costs a community $0, and every dollar over its counter stays with it. Tell us who you are, and a person from the festival office writes back with the committee's questions in a form your board can read.
Who wrote this.
Written by the Capital Cultures organisers, 28 September 2026.
Sources: Canadian Heritage, Events component, page modified 15 September 2026; Application guidelines, Events component; Canadian Heritage decision service standards; Government of Canada invests in Nuit Blanche Ottawa event, 26 September 2026.
Version 1 · program rules change between intakes, so check canada.ca before you file