Queensland organisations are invited to apply for a share of $1 million in funding to deliver multicultural events and festivals in 2026 that bring communities together and celebrate the state’s cultural diversity.
With more than one in five Queenslanders born overseas, the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program reflects the Queensland Government’s commitment to building a more inclusive Queensland where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and valued.
The program will run across two funding rounds in 2025, each offering $500,000. Organisations can apply for one-off funding of up to $20,000 to support multicultural events, including intercultural sporting events and multicultural festivals.
Round 1 opens on Monday, 21 July 2025 and closes at midnight on Sunday, 17 August 2025, for events taking place between 1 January and 30 June 2026.
Round 2 will open on 1 November 2025 for events scheduled between 1 July and 31 December 2026, ensuring year-round support for cultural events across Queensland.
In 2025, the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program funded organisations to deliver 119 events and festivals, including the CARMA Multicultural Festival and Youth Empowerment Peace Finale in Cairns, the Gold Coast Holi Colour Festival, and the Buddha’s Birthday Festival in Brisbane.
The Buddha’s Light International Association of Queensland’s Marketing Director Ralph Smith said Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program funding was very important in helping the association stage its Lunar New Year Festival in Brisbane this year.
“The Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program has been very helpful to our organisation,” Mr Smith said.
“We received $10,000 in Celebrating Multicultural Queensland funding for our 2025 Lunar New Year Festival at our Foguangshan Chung Tian temple in Priestdale with more than 30,000 people attending.
“The funding helps us offer more events to the wider community – it encourages Queenslanders of all backgrounds to participate in our celebrations and provides an opportunity for them to immerse themselves in Buddhist culture.”
Applications for Round 1 of the 2025–26 Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program will close at midnight on 17 August 2025.
For more information visit www.dwatsipm.qld.gov.au/cmq-program
Last reviewed:11 August 2025
Last modified:11 August 2025
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