Planning an event in Fife? Whether you’re organising a community gathering, festival, sports event, market or a one-off celebration, this page brings together the key support, contacts and next steps to help you plan a safe and successful event.

What counts as an event?

An event is any organised activity that brings people together in a public space or venue. This can include:

• community fairs and galas
• fundraising events
• sporting events
• parades
• musical events and performances

If you are planning an event that could impact public safety, traffic, local residents, you may need different licences or permits. You can take a look at what things to consider while planning your event.

How to get your planning started

Giving enough notice

Timescales vary depending on the size and complexity of your event.

• Small events: less than 500 people will need a minimum of 6 week's notice
• Medium to large events: 500 to 10,000 people will need a minimum of 6 month's notice
• Major events: more than 10,000 people will need a minimum of 12 month's notice

These timescales help ensure you have enough time to apply for licences, consult with services, and put all required safety measures in place. We strongly recommend contacting us as early as possible to avoid delays.

Your responsibility as the event organiser

As the organiser you are responsible for:

• submitting any required licence or permit applications, such as Public Entertainment, Occasional Licence, road closures
• ensuring all documentation is completed accurately and submitted in good time
• putting appropriate safety measures in place
• complying with legal duties and local guidance
• managing the event on the day

Related publications

• The Purple Guide to health and safety and welfare at events
• HSE event safety

Contact the Fife Council Events Team

If you’d like to discuss your plans, sense-check timings, or understand what permissions may be required, contact the Events Team:

• Email: fifeevents@fife.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01592 583109

Funding support

Fife Strategic Events Fund Open for Applications from 1st May-30th June 2026

Fife Council recognises the cultural and economic importance of events and aims to attract new events and support existing events to grow. The Fife Strategic Events Fund supports new or existing events with the capacity to grow and generate significant economic benefits, attract visitors, and raise Fife’s profile nationally or internationally.

Application Criteria

Click HERE for link to full funding criteria

Events should aim to:

• Generate economic benefit for Fife, increasing spend in local businesses, supporting the visitor economy and contributing to Scotland’s overall tourism and events sector.
• Attract new visitors into Fife from across Scotland, the UK and internationally, growing the region’s reach, profile and market appeal in alignment with national ambitions.
• Enhance the profile and distinctiveness of Fife’s places, strengthening the area’s brand as a diverse, vibrant and attractive visitor destination. Events should showcase Fife’s unique cultural, coastal, heritage and natural assets.
• Inspire and involve local communities, ensuring residents have opportunities to participate, volunteer and benefit from events in a confident, inclusive and responsible way.
• Encourage responsible tourism, ensuring events support the sustainable use of Fife’s landscapes, coastal environments, town centres and community spaces in line with Scotland’s responsible tourism principles.
• Support strategic event development, enabling organisers to introduce new elements, innovations or enhancements that grow impact, extend reach and improve event sustainability.
• This programme is a strategic development fund. It does not provide long-term, core or startup funding. Instead, it supports ‑project-based activity that adds value to existing events or helps new events grow responsibly—such as innovation, programme development, audience growth initiatives, destination marketing enhancement, skills development, sustainability improvements‑ or activity that strengthens Fife’s position within Scotland’s national events landscape.

Fife Strategic Event Funding

Criteria

Funding rounds and timescales

The Fife Strategic Events Fund operates on a round-based application process to ensure events are assessed fairly and supported in good time.

Funding rounds for 2026\27

• Round 1: Applications closed 1st March 2026, 12noon
• Round 2: Expressions of interest open 1st May 2026.
  • This round is for events taking place from 1^st September 2026-31^st March 2027
  • If invited to apply full funding application must be submitted by 30th June 2026, 12noon
  • Late applications will not be accepted
• Future funding rounds for 2027/28 will be announced in due course.

Fife Events Strategy and Future Funding Update

The 2nd 2026 funding round (June 2026) is a hybrid transition round, combining elements of the previous funding model with new, strategically aligned criteria that will be fully introduced from 2027. This approach allows organisers to begin adapting to the future direction of the fund and to align their events with emerging priorities such as economic benefit, place based value, sustainability, community impact and national‑level visibility.

A new Events Strategy for Fife is currently being developed, which will guide future investment and shape the long‑term strategic priorities for events across the region. The updated criteria in this transitional round have been designed to support that direction of travel while still providing continuity for organisers.

For further guidance please contact:
strategic.events@fife.gov.uk

Additional Help and Support

• Welcome to Fife - Promotion of Event
• EventScotland - Support & Funding
• EventScotland - Developing and Growing Your Event
• VisitScotland - Marketing & Communications
• EventScotlandSustainable Events