Community Celebration Support Fund

Applications to the Community Celebration Support Fund is open. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on September 17.

Toronto is one of 16 host cities for the FIFA World Cup 26™ taking place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Toronto’s theme for the tournament is “World in a City.” Toronto doesn’t just embrace diversity, it celebrates it. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, no matter which team plays in Toronto, it will feel like a home game.

The City of Toronto is providing funding for vibrant, main street and community-driven cultural projects and events that celebrate this global event coming to the city and Toronto’s “World in a City” theme. Eligible local community organizations can apply for support to cover costs related to planning, promoting and delivering community celebrations during the tournament. These community events will play a key role in promoting different and diverse areas of the city, making them lively and hubs of activity during the tournament.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be one of the following:
    • An incorporated not-for-profit organization
    • A local band council, a local tribal council or other local Indigenous government (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) or equivalent authority
    • A Business Improvement Area
    • An incorporated not-for-profit community organization partnering with unincorporated individuals or collectives producing a community celebration or activity
  • Have a demonstrated history of delivering successful community programming.

Ineligible Organizations

  • City of Toronto Agencies, Boards or Commissions
  • Educational institutions (including school boards), sports organizations and agencies of the provincial government (including hospitals)
  • Public libraries
  • Unions
  • Commercial or Corporate Businesses for profit organizations

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, proposed activities and projects must:

  • Take place in Toronto
  • Take place between June 11 and July 19, 2026, during the FIFA World Cup 26™ tournament dates
  • Demonstrate community engagement and the potential to drive business to local main streets and communities
  • Offer activities, initiatives or programming that is rooted in community engagement
  • Be free, open and accessible to the public without a requirement for membership in a club or group

FIFA World Cup 26™ Public Viewing Event

If your project is, or can be interpreted as, a “public viewing” party of FIFA World Cup 26™ matches, you must seek independent approval for a public viewing licence through the FIFA Public Viewing Platform. There are a number of obligations and limitations to consider, which are managed by FIFA and not the City of Toronto.

The FIFA Public Viewing Platform is expected to be available in Fall 2025. This platform will outline the process for requesting public viewing licenses for the FIFA World Cup 26™.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or need assistance with your public viewing license requests, contact publicviewing@fifa.org.

Ineligible Activities & Projects

  • Take place outside the city of Toronto
  • Take place in private venues
  • Require participants to purchase tickets
  • Sporting and recreational events
  • Competitions, contests and/or award shows
  • Trade shows, business events, conventions and conferences
  • Religious and political events
  • Exclusively online activities
  • Primarily commercial or marketing-driven events
  • Any activity that would not comply with the City's anti-harassment and discrimination policy
  • Any street events requiring new road closures.

Important Note

All applicants must understand and affirm that activities proposed cannot imply any official FIFA partnership or association and/or use likeness and/or official branding of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in proposed activities/operations.

Funding Available

Grants are available for up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses to a maximum amount of $40,000.

If funding is approved, the recipient will be advised in writing of the amount of approved funding. Payments of 90 percent will be issued in the form of direct deposit or cheque in Q4 of 2025. The balance will be remitted after the project final report submission.

Eligibility Expenses

Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Artists or entertainment fees (music, art, performance, etc.)
  • Production costs related to project
  • Technical costs related to project (audiovisual or sound equipment, etc.)
  • Marketing and promotional costs
  • Development and execution of health and safety and accessibility plans
  • Equipment rental and staffing related to operations and logistics
  • Security staffing and Emergency Planning materials
  • Volunteer Program Development and Training
  • Signage and beautification materials
  • Permit fees.

Ineligible Expenses

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Activities that do not contribute to the project for which the application was submitted
  • Activity costs incurred not relevant to the project for which the application was submitted
  • Capital costs or equipment purchase
  • Volunteer hours or gifts
  • The purchase of alcohol.

Before applying, it is strongly recommended that applicants:

  1. Read the Program Guidelines.
  2. Register to attend the information webinar on July 30 at 6 p.m. to learn critical information and ask questions.
  3. Download and use this budget template. If you have an existing budget, please adapt and use your budget as a reference to fill out the budget provided.

Only then, complete the online application below. As part of the application, be prepared to upload the following documents:

  • Itemized project budget using the budget template provided above.
  • Slide deck, eight to 15 pages in length, describing your proposed project.
  • Letters of Support from other funders or partners, if applicable.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on September 17.

Apply Online

For questions about the application including accessibility accommodations and/or a different format, please contact ccsf@toronto.ca using your organization’s email account.

Please note that email is not a secure means to transmit personal information. The City of Toronto is responsible for ensuring that the City uses secure channels when collecting personal information, but cannot ensure the security of personal information when it is transmitted through email servers outside the City’s computer system.