Major Sport Events Grant Program

Applicants must be sanctioned by their respective national sport organization and/or international sport federation to host a proposed event in a fair, safe and responsible manner, and in accordance with the rules and standards of the sport set by the national sport organization or international sport federation.

Eligible applicants include First Nations, Metis Settlements, and non-profit organizations that have been registered, and in good standing, for more than 2 years under one of the following acts:

• Provincial legislation:
  • Business Corporations Act, Part 21
  • Companies Act, Part 9
  • Societies Act
  • Special Act of the Alberta Legislature
• Federal legislation:
  • Special Act of the Parliament of Canada
  • Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act
  • Income Tax Act

Applicants must be in good standing with Alberta Corporate Registries. Verify your Corporate Registry status.

Applicants registered under federal legislation can verify federal legislation status.

Ineligible applicants include:

• individuals
• municipalities
• agricultural societies
• for-profit organizations
• post-secondary Institutions as defined under Alberta’s Post-secondary Learning Act
• foundations established and regulated under Alberta’s Regional Health Authorities Act
• non-profit organizations that primarily support private sector, profit-oriented interests
• other organizations not registered under one of the acts listed in 'Eligible applicants'
• organizations with overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting relating to any grant previously awarded by the Government of Alberta

World class national and international events and venues that ensure a fair, safe and responsible competition, in accordance with the rules and standards of the sport as set by the national sport organization or international sport federation, subject to the criteria outlined in 'Ineligible events.'

National event requirements

• Must be sanctioned by a national sport organization listed in Appendix 1 of the 2026 Major Sport Events Grant Program Intake 2 Guidelines.
• Must include representation from no fewer than 6 provinces or territories, including Alberta, as a stand-alone competitor. Representation from an international contingent may substitute as a province to meet the minimum representation requirement.
• National Championship for a specific sport, in a specific age group, confirmed by the sport organization listed in Appendix 1 of the 2026 Major Sport Events Grant Program Intake 2 Guidelines.

International event requirements

• Must be sanctioned by an international sport federation, listed in Appendix 1 in the 2026 MSE Intake 2 Guidelines.
• must include representation from no fewer than 3 countries, including Canada and one country from outside of North America.

Ineligible events include:

• events still in the bidding process
• national or international events not meeting the eligibility requirements as stipulated in 'Eligible events'
• conferences, congresses, symposiums, expos or meetings
• sport development or training camps
• events hosted prior to the application deadline
• events or festivals that are provincial, regional or local
• events that are organized for or delivered by private, for-profit organizations
• elementary, junior high and high school sport championships
• national and international events that include biologically male athletes in female-only classes or divisions –
  • Note: For clarity, in the event of any inconsistency or conflict between this criterion and the rules and standards set by the applicable national sport organization or international sport federation, this criterion will govern for the purposes of determining event eligibility.
• professional events –
  • Events with athletes being paid a salary or an appearance fee, regardless of performance, are considered professional events for the purpose of this program.
  • The event must be restricted to athletes who meet amateur status criteria as defined by the relevant sport’s governing (sanctioning) body.