Media Contact: 
Brenna Moore/Visit Albuquerque
Office: (505) 222-4349
Moore@VisitABQ.org 

Visit Albuquerque Announces 2026 Tourism Grants

Tourism Grant Program awards $500,000 to 36 tourism projects and events

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – (Aug. 25, 2026) – Visit Albuquerque, the city’s official destination marketing organization (DMO), has announced the recipients of its 2026 Tourism Grant Program. Now in its fourth year, the program aims to spark innovative ideas that enhance Albuquerque’s vibrancy, create engaging experiences for visitors along with residents, promote tourism, and strengthen the community.

This year, Visit Albuquerque received 84 grant applications requesting a total of $2.59 million in funding. The organization awarded $500,000 across two grant tiers and a signature events category: 12 Incubator grants, 19 Innovator grants and support for five signature events.

“The projects selected for this cycle of our Tourism Grant Program reflect the creativity of the Albuquerque community while advancing key priorities in the Destination Master Plan,” said Tania Armenta, president and CEO of Visit Albuquerque. “These investments will expand the experiences available to visitors and residents, generate demand during traditionally slower periods and strengthen Albuquerque’s competitiveness as a destination for leisure travel, meetings and sports tourism.”

The program is made possible due to revenue generated by the Albuquerque Tourism Marketing District (ATMD), a coalition of approximately 140 local lodging properties that agreed to an assessment for guests on overnight stays. Visit Albuquerque uses the assessed dollars to expand marketing of the city as a destination and enhance the visitor experience.

Recipients of Incubator grants were eligible to receive up to $10,000 for project implementation, while recipients of Innovator grants were eligible for up to $100,000 in funding with a matching requirement.

 2026 Incubator Grant Recipients:

  • 516 Arts – First Fridays event series (December 2026-June 2027), $10,000
  • Albuquerque German Language Club – Christkindlmarket/Christmas market (Dec. 12-13, 2026), $10,000
  • Blackout Theater – Art Official Intelligence: A Human-Made Art Festival (Nov. 15, 2026-Feb. 21, 2027), $10,000
  • Itality Plant Based Foods – Immersive Culinary & Cultural Experiences (through June 29, 2027), $10,000
  • Juneteenth Renaissance Institute – Heart of ABQ 6.6K (May 29, 2027), $10,000
  • Mindfield Film Festival – Mindfield Film Festival (Aug. 27-30, 2026), $10,000
  • New Mexico Performing Arts Society – The Sights and Sounds of Route 66 event (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027), $10,000
  • New Mexico Prickly Pear Festival – Expanding the Reach of New Mexico Food Culture: Marketing for the New Mexico Prickly Pear Festival (Sept. 18-19, 2026), $10,000
  • Nob Hill Main Street – Nob Hill Chile Drop (Dec. 31, 2026), $10,000
  • OffCenter Community Arts Project – Artist Immersion Series (Nov. 14, 2026-June 14, 2027), $10,000
  • WHEELS Museum – Route 66: Roads & Rails Transportation Festival (April 17-18, 2027), $10,000
  • Winrock Park – Winrock Wonderland & Christmas Tree Lighting (Nov. 27-29, 2026), $10,000

 2026 Innovator Grant Recipients:

  • AMP Concerts – Live @ Winrock Free Concert Series (May 28-July 23, 2027), $21,000
  • Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum Foundation – Outdoor Balloon Adventure (Opens May 15, 2027), $30,000
  • Arts Hub – Funny Fiesta (March 1-7, 2027), $16,800
  • Blue River Productions – Great New Mexico Beer Festival (Nov. 7, 2026), $10,000
  • Casa Barelas – Cultural Concert Series on 4th (yearlong), $10,000
  • Casa Flamenca – Old Town: A Rich and Engaging Visitor Experience (through Oct. 31, 2026), $10,500
  • Downtown ABQ Main Street and Arts & Culture District – Destination: Downtown (yearlong), $12,500
  • Fiber Arts on 4th – Expansion of educational equipment, $19,100
  • Flamenco Works, Inc. – Fiesta Flamenca Burqueña (Sept. 21-27, 2026), $25,000
  • GO Unlimited – Rio Rally 2026 adaptive race (Sept. 25-27, 2026), $10,000
  • The Groove Artspace – ABQ Mosaic & Glass Festival 2027 (March 2027), $12,600
  • Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – Grounded in Clay exhibition (through March 2027), $10,500
  • National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – Spyglass Festival: Spies in the Sky (Jan. 15-16, 2027), $15,000
  • New Mexico Jeep Tours – Pinzgauer fleet expansion, $10,000
  • New Mexico Restaurant Association – Albuquerque Restaurant Week (April 2027), $10,000
  • New Mexico Wine & Grape Growers Association – Vino in the Village at the Quadricentennial Vineyards (Sept. 1, 2026-June 30, 2027), $42,000
  • Olympia Management – ABQ Running Fiesta (Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2026), $20,000
  • Pleased to Present – ABQ Invitational & Mural Restoration (March-April 2027), $20,000
  • The Historic Lobo Theater – Century on Central sign restoration, $25,000

The grantees are implementing their projects with oversight and collaboration from Visit Albuquerque. The application period for the next grant cycle will open in the spring of 2027. 

In addition, five applications were selected to receive signature event funding. Each will receive $10,000 plus a customized marketing campaign designed to support its continued success.  Visit Albuquerque promotes signature and notable events throughout the year as part of its broader destination marketing strategy.

 2026 Signature Event Recipients:

  • ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® (Oct. 3-11, 2026) – the world’s largest hot air balloon gathering
  • Day of the Tread (Oct. 24-25, 2026) – annual Halloween- and Day-of-the-Dead-themed bicycle race
  • Dia de los Muertos (Oct. 30-Nov. 9, 2026) – a multiday celebration of Day of the Dead in Old Town
  • Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque (July 7-10, 2027) – the largest and most comprehensive mariachi concert and conference event in the country
  • National Institute of Flamenco’s Festival Flamenco Alburquerque 40th Anniversary (July 9-17, 2027) – the largest flamenco event held outside of Spain

For more information on the Tourism Grant Program, go to VisitABQ.org/TourismGrants or contact grants@visitabq.org.

About Visit Albuquerque

Visit Albuquerque is an accredited destination marketing organization (DMO), and a private, not-for-profit organization [501(c)(6)]. The mission of Visit Albuquerque is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a convention, sports and visitor destination. For more information, go to www.VisitABQ.org.

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