Provincial funding will support dozens of sporting, cultural and community events across Greater Victoria through the B.C. government’s Destination Events Program. NDP MLAs announced the $639,000 in total funding May 14, saying the grants will help organizers host events ranging from marathons and music festivals to arts shows and sporting competitions. Among the largest grants announced were $100,000 for the 2026 Royal Victoria Marathon, $90,000 for the 2026 Rifflandia Festival and $53,000 for Saturday Afternoons at the Opera. “Greater Victoria is home to amazing organizations putting on events every year, including free, family-friendly, and inclusive events for the whole region to enjoy,” said Diana Gibson, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. On the West Shore, the 2026 Sooke Fine Arts Show received $24,000, while The Great Canadian Bash was awarded $22,000 and Island FanCon 2027 received $16,000. “Langford is a world-class destination for sporting, cultural, and community events that bring people of all walks of life together, helping boost our local economy, and make our town more vibrant,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Highlands. Lana Popham said the funding will help support the return of events in the region while Dana Lajeunesse and Nina Krieger highlighted the importance of these grants in highlighting local talents and supporting local economies. “Here in Greater Victoria we’re lucky to have wonderful events throughout the year for locals and visitors to enjoy, while supporting local businesses, artists, creators, and innovators,” said Krieger, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. For more information about the Destination Events Program and to find a full list of grant recipients, visit gov.bc.ca .
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