Festival Country Opens 2026 Grant Program with a New Category
Festival Country Indiana, which awarded more than $300,000 in grant funding and sponsorships in 2025, has opened up its 2026 grant program with a new funding category: the USA’s 250th celebration.
Festival Country will fund local 250th celebrations, art projects and other ideas that will attract visitors and residents. In addition to the new category, Festival Country will continue to fund events and attractions that generate tourism.
Last year, Festival Country’s Board of Directors approved grants and sponsorships to bring summer concert series to four venues, to fund First Fridays in downtown Franklin, and to help construct new amphitheaters in Trafalgar and Edinburgh.
“The projects we have committed to fund are game changers for our communities, and we are looking to take on some more meaningful projects in 2026,” said Kenneth Kosky, executive director of Festival Country.
“The great thing about every festival we support, or tourism attraction that we provide funding for, can also be enjoyed by our residents.”
Kosky said he is especially looking forward to receiving ideas to commemorate our country’s 250th, whether it be a mural or an epic celebration.
Festival Country’s grant program is open annually, and applications are accepted in advance of each monthly board meeting. Grant applicants are required to be a nonprofit or a government entity, and the proposed projects must support new tourism by bringing new festivals, events, projects and attractions to the county or by significantly improving existing ones.
Visit festivalcountryindiana.com/grants for details and requirements. Festival Country Indiana is the official destination organization for the communities of Johnson County.