The NSW government has further thrown its support behind numerous live music and cultural cornerstones across the state, stating that fourteen events will benefit from “less red tape.”

According to a press release, the Minns Labor government is introducing a new events framework and revealing the first round of “Foundation Events,” which features a diverse collection of events that will receive additional support, including Vivid Sydney, Bluesfest, and the Deni Ute Muster.

The framework complements the government’s focus on experience tourism in NSW and drawing people back to the state to attend its events. The framework focuses on assessing the social contribution and community benefits of events and the social and cultural legacy of live music and other forms of entertainment.

The NSW government has introduced three new event categories: Foundation, Major, and Local events.

Foundation events have been described as regular, recurring events that could grow in size and significance over time. Meanwhile, major events are large-scale events that could happen once or on multiple occasions and significantly impact an area (think Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour or any other stadium/arena run with numerous dates). Local events are often smaller in scale but still contribute to the state’s economy and the community.

Foundation events will be assessed differently from the other two categories and receive extra support. For example, they will be prioritised for a minimum three-year Strategic Investment Agreement with Destination NSW, with renewals to be negotiated one year before the last event.

The first round of Foundation Events includes the following cultural touchstones:

• Bathurst 1000

• Biennale of Sydney

• Bluesfest

• Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash

• Deni Ute Muster

• NRL Men’s & Women’s Grand Final

• Parkes Elvis Festival

• Sydney Festival

• Sydney Fringe Festival

• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

• SXSW Sydney

• Tamworth Country Music Festival

• TCS Sydney Marathon

• Vivid Sydney

The list will be reviewed periodically, and more events will be added.

The NSW Minister for Arts, Tourism, Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham, explained that the state is “investing for growth.” Adding that the NSW calendar features an abundance of incredible events, he said of the government’s support of the above fourteen events:

“We are building the calendar and investing for growth. These events light up the calendar. They have become part of who we are, and it’s time we give them the recognition and certainty they deserve.”

Graham continued, “The NSW calendar has an incredible line-up of events [and] special times in our annual calendar that allow us to come together for iconic moments. The foundation events framework gives these festivals certainty so they can keep producing these important experiences for us all to share.

“What these incredibly fun and unique events speak to, is government supporting local communities to play to their strengths and then tell their local story to the world. Locals know what works in their patch. We support them to do it!

“The foundation events framework gives events certainty, which drives culture, connects communities and generates economic growth.”

Events are a “significant” contributor to the NSW visitor economy. Between 2023 and 2024, events supported by Destination NSW generated $1 billion in visitor expenditure for the state.

By making the above cultural occurrences Foundation events, the government will protect them from going under and ensure their contribution to the NSW visitor economy, which also supports local businesses and jobs for those who work at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Mardi Gras, and more.