More funding proposed for event organisers in Dumfries and Galloway
Councillors will decide on the additional £80,000 funding package for events next week
Fifteen further events are to be added to the region’s calendar over the next year – with the council providing financial backing to make them a success.
The local authority had already earmarked a total of £195,000 to the organisers of big name ‘signature’ events in 2026/27 because they attract many visitors to the region and generate millions for the local economy.
Now, councillors are being asked to rubber stamp the investment of an additional £80,000 in grants: £56,500 split between nine organisations staging major events, and £23,500 shared by 10 applicants putting together smaller, regional events.
Council officers are recommending that grant cash is allocated as follows (organiser names in brackets):
Major Events Fund – The Gralloch (Red-On Group), £15,000; Scottish Curling Championships 2026 (Dumfries Curling), £11,000; Jupiter + Dumfries (Jupiter Artland), £11,000; South of Scotland Outdoor Festival (Outsider Events), £10,000; and British Gravel Championships (Outsider Events), £9,500.
The organisation behind four other major events – South of Scotland Horse Trials, Drumlanrig Off Road Motorcycle Festival, Wild Goose Festival, and Traditional Music Festival – look set to miss out on funding because they never met the scoring criteria.
Regional Events Fund – Street Choir Festival 2026 in Dumfries (Songwave Community Choir and Partners), £2,500; Fin and Foil Open Championships 2025 in Stranraer (Scottish Fin and Foil Association), £5,000; Trophy D’ecosse at Dumfries Ice Bowl (Trophy D’ecosse), £2,000; The Longest Day in Sanquhar (Crawick Multiverse), £2,000; Wigtown Shindy (Driftwood Cinema), £2,000; Castle Douglas Soapbox (Castle Douglas Soapbox), £2,000; Annan Summer Festival (Annan The History Town), £2,000); Country Fair and UK Wife Carrying Championships (Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities), £2,000; Glenkens Festival of Land in New Galloway (Glenkens Community and Arts Trust), £2,000; and the Traditional Music Festival in Newton Stewart (Traditional Music Trust), £2,000.
Councillors will review the recommendations put forward by council officers at next Tuesday’s education, skills, and community wellbeing committee.
A report produced by ee Seton, the council’s manager for leisure, culture and wellbeing, states: “Should members agree the amounts, this fully utilises the combined available funding of £80,000 for the Major Events fund and the Regional Events Growth Fund.”
Three months ago, councillors agreed the Signature Events awards for 2026/27: Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival (Arts DG) – £22,000; Kirkcudbright Galleries exhibitions – £26,000; Spring Fling – £26,000; Stranraer Oyster Festival – £26,000; Wigtown Book Festival – £30,000; World Championship Ice Hockey – £22,000; Scottish Rally – £17,000; Big Burns Supper – to be determined after their midterm review.
This leaves £26,000 unallocated at this point.