The Melbourne Fringe Access Fund provides a contribution of $500–$3,000 to help artists remove barriers to participation for d/Deaf, Disabled and neurodivergent audiences. It’s open to any artist with a registered event in the 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival. There are two rounds of funding, so you can apply in the round that best suits your timeline.
Melbourne Fringe Festival registrations for 2026 open on Thursday 16 April. If you’re planning to present work at the Festival and are already thinking about access, start reading through this information now. Round 1 of the Access Fund closes on 23 April, just one week after registrations open, so the sooner you start planning your access approach, the better placed you’ll be to apply when registrations open. You don’t need to complete your registration in order to apply; as long as you have one started by 11:59pm, Thursday 23 April, you’re eligible to apply for Access Fund in round 1.
On the Opportunities for artists page
you will find information about new and different things to try.
Opportunities are chances to help you get more success in your arts career.
Apply for funding to make your art.
Enter an art competition
Opportunities to have a voice in important things that effect you.
Do a survey
Attend a meeting
Opportunities to learn and share knowledge.
Attend a conference to learn from other people.
Attend a conference to share your knowledge.
And much more!
