Ulster-Scots Community Festivals Grant

06 February 2026

The Ulster-Scots Agency has opened its Ulster-Scots Community Festivals Grant for 2026/27.

The funding stream will support the delivery of community festivals throughout Ulster from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027. 

Our popular Community Festival Programme opens each year and one of its aims is to provide people with more opportunities to experience and learn about Ulster-Scots culture, heritage, and language. 

Ulster-Scots community festivals play an important role in raising awareness of Ulster-Scots within the wider community. Through music, dance, education, events and more, these programmes allow the Ulster-Scots people to celebrate their cultural identity and strengthen connections within communities.  

The fund also supports the inclusion of Ulster-Scots content in other community festivals. 

Groups interested in applying should click here – Ulster-Scots Community Festivals Grant 

Following a successful registration, an application form, guidelines, and festival plan template will be automatically emailed to the group.  

Please note: The festival plan is part of the application process therefore groups are required to use the festival plan template provided. Failure to submit the festival plan and the supporting documents as listed in the guidelines will result in the application being rejected.  

The maximum grant available for a major festival is £20,000. 

The maximum grant available for a minor festival is £8,000. 

Groups are required to provide match funding of at least 25%. 

The Community Festivals Programme is a traditionally a competitive programme, therefore groups are encouraged to read the detailed guidelines – particularly the definition of a community festival, the difference between a minor and major festival, and details regarding the eligible costs – before completing the application form. 

If a group requires assistance with their application, support is available from the Ulster-Scots Community Network (USCN). The USCN are located within the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre, 1-9 Victoria Street, Belfast, BT1 3GA; and can be contacted via email or phone – 

Email: info@ulster-scots.com 

Phone: 028 9043 6710

The Ulster-Scots Community Festivals Grant will close at 3pm on Monday 9 March 2026. 

Late or incomplete applications will be rejected. 

For further information, contact Derek Reaney on reaneyd@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk or 07843 279 912.