NSW Backs Newcastle Festivals in $1.3 Million Regional Event Push

newy.com.au – Two of Newcastle’s flagship arts events, New Annual and the Newcastle Fringe Festival, will each receive $20,000 from the NSW Government’s 2025–26 Regional Event Fund, boosting the city’s cultural calendar and its visitor economy.

The funding is part of a $1.3 million state-wide investment under the Minns Labor Government’s initiative to support regional events that contribute to local communities and tourism. A total of 61 events across NSW have secured grants of up to $50,000 to enhance programming, marketing, and event infrastructure.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp welcomed the announcement, saying the funding would help showcase the city’s unique cultural offerings. “This funding will help deliver events that Newcastle can be proud of, while attracting visitors to fill our hotels, dine in our restaurants and explore our local attractions, all of which help stimulate the visitor economy,” he said.

New Annual, the City of Newcastle’s major arts festival, will benefit from the support as it prepares for its return in late September. First launched in 2021 as a post-COVID cultural initiative, the festival features a diverse line-up of contemporary art, music, dance and performance across venues like Civic Park, Newcastle Museum and Wheeler Place. Programming includes large-scale installations, First Nations storytelling, and interactive works, with many free events designed to maximise community engagement.

The Newcastle Fringe Festival, which began in 2016, will also receive a boost ahead of its March 2026 season. Run independently by a volunteer-led team, the grassroots festival offers an open-access platform for emerging artists across comedy, cabaret, theatre, music and experimental performance. Shows take place in unconventional inner-city venues, such as bars, churches and pubs, with an emphasis on affordability, inclusivity and artist-led programming.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said the Regional Event Fund reflects the government’s commitment to regional culture and tourism. “Regional events are the heartbeat of local communities, they celebrate what makes each region unique while also driving real economic benefits by attracting visitors, creating jobs and supporting local businesses,” he said.

A full list of funded events is available at destinationnsw.com.au/regional-event-fund-2025-26