Up to 75 000 euros for organising an international event in Estonia: EIS's new funding round opens on 31 August

Organisers of international festivals, sporting competitions or cultural events will soon have access to a new funding opportunity. On 31 August 2026, the Enterprise and Innovation Foundation (EIS) will open a call for applications for grants for international sportsand cultural events, with a grant ofavailable per project30 000–75 000 euros .

The budget for this round is 525 000 euros,and the EIS estimates that this will enable support to be provided for approximately seven international events. Applications may be submitted from 31 August at 9.00 until 14 October at 2026 at 16.00.

However, the grant is not intended for every major event. The event must meet specific criteria regarding its international character, the number of foreign visitors, its duration and external marketing.

The grant in brief

• Amount of grant: 30 000–75 000 €
• Self-financing: at least 30 per cent of the project’s eligible costs
• Budget for the 2026 round: 525 000 €
• Submission of applications: 31.08.2026 at 9.00 – 14.10.2026 at 16.00
• The event must take place in Estonia
• Duration of the event: at least two consecutive days
• Visitors from outside the city: at least 600 in Tallinn or at least 300 outside Tallinn
• The application must be submitted at least four months before the event takes place
• Total cost of the project’s activities: up to 200 000 €, although the total budget for the event itself may be higher.

Who is the funding for international events intended for?

Applications for funding may be submitted by the organiser of the event, who may be:

• A company registered in Estonia;
• non-profit organisation;
• foundation;
• Estonian government agency;
• a local authority or one of its bodies.

The scheme is therefore not intended solely for large festival organisers or sports associations. An application may also be submitted by a company registered in Estonia or MTÜ, provided that the event to be organised meets the eligibility criteria for the grant.

Which events qualify for funding?

One of the most important questions is what the EIS actually considers to be an international event in the context of this measure.

Funding may be applied forin respect of an international one-year sporting or cultural event taking place in Estonia which helps to increase the number of foreign visitors and raise Estonia’s profile as a travel destination.

1. The event must last at least two days

The event must take place overat least two consecutive days as part of a single programme,and there must be substantive activities on both days.

It is therefore not sufficient, for example, to add a separate registration or a side event on a second day to a one-day main event – what is important is a substantive programme lasting at least two days.

2. There must be a sufficient number of visitors from abroad

The minimum number of external visitors required depends on where the event is held.

In Tallinn: at least 600 visitors from abroad.

Outside Tallinn: at least 300 visitors from abroad.

This makes the grant particularly attractive to organisers of festivals, sporting events and cultural events taking place outside the capital, as the required number of visitors from outside the area is half as high there.

3. The event must be promoted in at least one overseas market

Internationalism alone is not enough.

Marketing activities for the event must be planned for at least one foreign market. Visitors must also be provided with information about tourism opportunities in Estonia as part of the event.

This means that, when completing the application, it is important to consider, for example:

• from which country it is intended to attract visitors;
• through which channels they are addressed;
• in which languages the marketing is carried out;
• what is the marketing and media plan;
• how the event is linked to promoting Estonia as a travel destination.

4. At least two Estonian SMEs must be involved

At least two small or medium-sized enterprises serving foreign visitors must be involved in the planning and organisation of the event.

In practice, businesses involved in the event may include, for example, accommodation, transport, tourism or other visitor-related enterprises; however, it is worth checking the eligibility of a specific partner against the terms and conditions of the grant.

Very important: the application must be submitted at least 4 months before the event

Organisers should pay particular attention to this condition.

Applications for funding must be submitted at least four months before the event takes place.

This means that the grant cannot be used to fund a festival or competition taking place in the coming weeks or in a couple of months’ time.

If an event is scheduled for 2027 year, it is worth reviewing the requirements now and preparing the necessary documents well in advance.

The earliest start date for the project may be the date on which the application is submitted. Activities must be carried out within 24 months, but no later than 31 October 2029.

What can the grant be used for?

The grant is not intended solely to cover the organisational costs of the event itself. An important part of the initiative is international marketing and attracting visitors from abroad to Estonia.

External marketing

The grant may be used, for example, for:

• in preparation for international marketing;
• as remuneration for a marketing officer;
• for the creation of adverts;
• for translation and design;
• for the production of marketing materials;
• to create foreign-language websites for the event;
• to take part in international trade fairs and other events held in other countries;
• the associated costs of transport, accommodation, participation and venue hire.

Expenses incurred by people arriving from abroad in connection with the event

The grant may also be used to cover the transport and accommodation costs of visitors arriving from abroad in connection with the organisation of the event.

These may include, for example:

• performers;
• organisers;
• journalists.

Costs of organising the event

Those eligible for support may include, amongst others:

• performers’ fees;
• costs of machinery and equipment;
• the letting of premises or land;
• organisational services;
• security service;
• medical care;
• parking management;
• ensuring accessibility;
• translation services;
• the creation and editing of photographs, audio and video recordings;
• international television and online broadcasts;
• collecting and analysing visitor statistics and feedback.

What can the grant not be used for?

Not all costs associated with the event are eligible for funding.

The EIS specifically states that the grant may not be used, for example:

• for catering costs;
• to develop a new website;
• for the costs of marketing materials in Estonian;
• to purchase advertising space;
• for the transport and accommodation costs of athletes or competitors;
• for activities that are unjustified or irrelevant from the project’s perspective.

It is worth noting an important distinction here:the creation of a website for a foreign-language event may be eligible for funding, but the development of a completely new website is not.

How much of a down payment is required?

Self-financing must amount to at least 30 per cent of the project’s eligible costs.

For example, applying for the maximum grant of 75 000 euros does not mean that the event’s entire budget may consist solely of an EIS grant. The organiser must also provide the required co-funding.

It is also important to note that whilst the total cost of the activities supported by the project may be up to 200 000 euros, the total budget for the event itself may exceed this amount.

What should be included with the application?

Applications must be submittedvia the Structural Funds e-grant portal.

EIS recommends preparing the documents before the application round opens.

The application must be accompanied by, amongst other things:

• a detailed budget for the project;
• the total budget for the event;
• project timetable;
• risk analysis;
• the cost estimates on which the budget is based;
• marketing and media plan;
• event programme.

Depending on the applicant and the project, it may also be necessary to submit additional documents, such as financial statements, a procurement plan, a letter of confirmation from a partner or a letter of authorisation.

How are applications assessed?

Applications that meet the requirements are assessed by the tourism sector assessment committee established under the EIS.

The following, amongst other things, are assessed:

• the project’s impact on the development of tourism in Estonia and on the objectives of the measure;
• the capacity of the applicant and the project team, including their financial capacity;
• the justification for the project;
• cost-effectiveness;
• the quality of project preparation.

This means that simply allowing a large number of international visitors may not be enough. The organiser must be able to demonstrate that the project has been prepared in a realistic manner and that it has a justified international and tourism-related impact.

The grant will be paid out after the event

Another important condition relates to cash flow.

There are no advance payments or interim payments under this measure.

The grant is paid as a lump sum following the event, the submission of the final report and the achievement of the project’s performance indicators.

The key performance indicators are:

1. the number of visitors from outside the event;
2. the number of small and medium-sized enterprises involved in the project.

The organiser must therefore bear in mind that sufficient financial capacity is required to carry out the project even before the grant is paid out.

There is a difference in state aid for sporting and cultural events

Support provided for sporting events constitutes de minimis aid, or VTA.

For cultural events, you can choose between cultural grants and de minimis aid. It is therefore advisable to check your organisation’s remaining de minimis aid balance before submitting an application.

When does the application round open?

The application round for 2026 will open:

31 August at 2026 at 9.00

and closes:

14. October 2026 at 16.00.

EIS is organisingan information session on 3 September at 11.00–12.00 on Teams, during which the aims of the grant and the application criteria will be presented.

Given the 525 000 euros and the EIS’s estimate that funding will be available for approximately seven events, it is advisable to start preparing an application before the round opens, provided a suitable project is available.

Could my event be eligible for funding?

A quick initial check can be carried out using these questions.

Is the event taking place in Estonia?

Is this an international sporting or cultural event?

Does the programme last for at least two consecutive days?

Is it realistic to attract at least 600 international visitors in Tallinn, or at least 300 elsewhere in Estonia?

Is the event being promoted in at least one foreign market?

Will the project involve at least two SMEs that cater for foreign visitors?

Is there a gap of at least four months between the submission of the application and the event?

Is it possible to cover at least 30 per cent of the eligible costs through own contributions?

If the answer to all these questions is ‘yes’, it is worth taking a closer look at the terms and conditions of the EIS.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding was allocated to the international event in 2026?

Ühele projektile saab taotleda 30 000 kuni 75 000 eurot toetust. 2026. aasta taotlusvooru eelarve on 525 000 eurot.

How much of a down payment is required?

Self-financing must amount to at least 30 per cent of the project’s eligible costs.

Can a one-day festival receive funding?

No. The event to be funded must take place as part of a single programme over at least two consecutive days, and substantive activities must take place on both days.

How many guests from outside the country should there be at the event?

Tallinnas toimuval sündmusel vähemalt 600 ning väljaspool Tallinna vähemalt 300 väliskülastajat.

Can one apply for a grant MTÜ?

Yes. An applicant may be a company registered in Estonia, MTÜ, a foundation, a government agency, a local authority or a body of a local authority.

When can an application be submitted?

Taotlusi saab esitada 31. augustist kuni 14. oktoobrini 2026 struktuurifondide e-toetuse keskkonnas.

Is the grant paid in advance?

No. The grant is paid out after the event has taken place, the final report has been submitted and the required performance indicators have been met.

Are you organising an event in Estonia? Make sure your visitors can find it

Receiving funding helps to organise the event, but the next important task is to reach out to people.

If you’re organisinga festival, a sporting event, family event, cultural event or any other public eventin Estonia, you can also add it to Easyfind and provide visitors with an overview of the event’s programme, venue and key information, all in one place.

Add your event to Easyfind and make it easier for people to find.

This article is for information purposes only. Before submitting an application, always check the current conditions on the EIS’s official grant page and in the application round documents.