New NEA Deadlines and Grant Guidance Coming in February

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) shared an update about its FY2026 grant process, including new deadlines, plans for revised grant guidelines, and eligibility rules. Please read the complete announcement from the NEA for full details. A few key highlights are:

• The NEA is revising  the FY 2026 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines in response to recent directives and to "streamline and simplify the application process and align with the agency’s mission."
• The new guidelines are expected to be posted on the NEA's website no later than February 10, 2025.
• There are two new application deadlines, which are now March 11 and July 10, 2025.
• Organizations that have initiated an FY26 application will need to reapply under the new grant guidelines.
• The updated guidelines will continue to encourage projects that "celebrate the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity by honoring the semiquincentennial of the United States of America (America250)." Applicants will now be required to have completed a five-year history of arts programming prior to the application deadline.
• The Challenge America grant opportunity is being canceled for FY2026 and prospective applicants are encouraged to apply to Grants for Arts Projects.  

The NEA will hold a free webinar about the updated guidelines on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 2:00pm. Registration is required and webinar recordings will be posted shortly after the presentations in the Applicant Resources section of the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects webpage along with answers to frequently asked questions.