Big Stage Events
Big Stage Events supports event organizers in attracting and hosting major Pennsylvania conventions, festivals, and competitions to generate overnight visits and regional economic benefits.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Due Dates: October 16, 2026 (Applications open) | Rolling (Applications and awards) | Within 60 days of notification (Agreement signatures)
Funding Amounts: $25,000–$200,000 per award
Summary: Supports attracting and hosting major Pennsylvania events that generate overnight visitation and regional economic impact.
Key Information: Projects may not begin before receipt of a signed Commonwealth contract; contact the program office about earlier starts.
Description
Big Stage Events is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Pennsylvania Tourism Office. It helps position Pennsylvania as a premium host of large-scale events by supporting the costs of attracting and staging conventions, conferences, concerts, festivals, shows, and competitions. Funding can support bidding, rentals, transportation, programming, marketing, and other approved event costs.
The grant is one of four programs within Marketing to Attract Tourists, which promotes Pennsylvania destinations and The Great American Getaway. Big Stage Events focuses on major events bringing a large influx of visitors staying three or more nights. Selection priorities include meaningful overnight visitation and economic impact relative to the host community, multi-day conventions and conferences, and events likely to return annually.
