NEA updates on FY26 Grant Opportunities
Posted February 13, 2025
Disciplines: All
The National Endowment for the Arts has updated its FY 2026 grant guidelines, with deadlines in March and July 2025. These changes impact organizations applying in the Grants for Arts Projects or Challenge America categories.
A webinar covering the updated Grants for Arts Projects guidelines will take place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET. (Free to attend; however, registration is required. A recording will be posted shortly after the presentation in the Applicant Resources section of the Grants for Arts Projects webpage.)
Challenge America
The Challenge America opportunity is canceled for FY 2026. Organizations that have applied or were planning to apply to the FY 2026 Challenge America grant opportunity are encouraged to apply to the Grants for Arts Projects category at the March or July deadlines instead. This change will help NEA staff focus resources more efficiently in their work.
NOTE: Projects funded through the Challenge America program are also eligible in Grants for Arts Projects. If you are planning an Artist Community or Design program, be aware that applications for these disciplines are accepted at the March Grants for Arts Projects deadline only.
Grants for Arts Projects
The National Endowment for the Arts has revised the FY 2026 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines. A set of Frequently Asked Questions addressing the changes is available in the guidelines.
As part of these changes, the February 13, 2025, Grants for Arts Projects deadline has been canceled. The FY 2026 deadlines are now March 11, 2025, for GAP 1 and July 10, 2025, for GAP 2. Organizations that have already submitted an application must submit a new application under one of these deadlines
