Queensland Destination Events Program (QDEP)

The QDEP offers three funding options for events in Queensland:

  • Two funding rounds each year
    • Round 1: Open now and closes 3 July 2025 – for events held January 2026 to January 2027
    • Round 2: Opens late August 2025 – for events held June 2026 to June 2027
  • Destination Signature Event Investment – funding for events that showcase their host destination and have a proven track record of drawing audiences beyond the local government area ($15,000-$40,000 per year, up to six years)
  • Destination Significant Event Investment– up to six years of support for regional events that can demonstrate a strong track record of growth or growth potential ($25,000 – $100,000 per year, up to six years).
  • Elevate Indigenous Events Investment – Supports events that highlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures ($15,000-$40,000 one-off grant)
  • Total grant funding cannot exceed more than 25% of the total event budget cash expenditure

The Queensland Destination Events Program (QDEP) helps connect events with the unique destinations they call home, ensuring the benefits of these events are felt far and wide across the state.

Since it began in 2015, QDEP has supported over 1,000 events with more than $25 million in funding. The program has recently been refreshed to align with Queensland's 20-year tourism vision and create even more opportunities for events to grow and thrive.

Key Requirements

Events must demonstrate their ability to meet key objectives:

  • Generate economic activity in the host destination
    • Boosts local economy through visitor and organiser expenditure
  • Attract external visitors to the destination
    • Targets off-peak periods to boost tourism outcomes
    • Attracts intrastate and interstate visitors with the potential to attract international visitors
    • Encourages extended stays in the host region
  • Drive social and community outcomes
    • Enriches the local community and fosters social inclusion
    • Highlights and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
    • Incorporates sustainable practices to support environmental and social outcomes
  • Enhance the profile and appeal of the destination
    • Enhances the destination’s visibility through media coverage and event promotion
    • Strengthens the region’s reputation as a tourism and events destination

What is eligible for funding?

  • Marketing Costs
    • Boosting out-of-region awareness and conversion through targeted campaigns, digital advertising, social media, partnerships, and content creators
  • Event Program Enhancements
    • Developing or enhancing program content to attract a broader audience
    • Introducing technologies that elevate the attendee experience
    • Supporting environmentally sustainable practices
    • Expanding accessibility and inclusion initiatives
  • Event Growth Development Plan
    • The engagement of a TEQ approved contractor to assist with:
      • Creating a strategic plan for event growth
      • Developing a commercial strategy and revenue diversification plan
      • Creating detailed business growth and marketing plans
      • Improving accessibility, inclusion and sustainability plans
  • Short-term specialised personnel
      • Engagement of specialised personnel for up to six months to address specific event needs leading to increased visitor numbers
  • Hire of temporary infrastructure
      • Improving event infrastructure, such as temporary seating or safety measures, to accommodate larger audiences and enhance event quality

What companies are eligible for funding?

To qualify for funding, the event must meet the following criteria:

  • Be held in the same Queensland destination, it cannot rotate to other locations.
  • Destination Signature — be in at least its third or more year, Destination Significant — be in its fourth or more year
  • The most recent event must have occurred before submitting the application
  • Align with the funding round’s eligible event dates
  • Clearly demonstrate how the funding will contribute to the growth of tourism outcomes, including increased overnight visitor expenditure
  • The applicant must have an ABN, be either a Corporation registered with ASIC, an Incorporated Association or other body corporate

 

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.