This program is currently between intakes. Annual intake; the application period is announced each cycle rather than fixed to a set month. The 2026-27 intake closed July 8, 2026. Confirm on the official site ↗
Updated July 2026 · Verified against Department of Canadian Heritage guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Est. 2018
Grant Federal Between Intakes

Creative Export Canada — Export Development Stream

Department of Canadian Heritage
Maximum Funding
Up to $90,000
Between intakes — the 2026-27 intake closed July 8, 2026; next intake to be a...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Mixed (Advance + Reimb.)
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
75%
Creative Export Canada — Export Development Stream provides Up to $90,000 per fiscal year (all government funding combined capped at 75% of the same eligible costs). Non-repayable contribution of up to $90K per fiscal year for Canadian creative industry companies to develop their international export capacity. The program covers up to 75% of eligible costs. Between intakes — the 2026-27 intake closed July 8, 2026; next intake to be announced fall 2026 (for expenses starting April 1, 2027). Approval odds: ~20–40% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

73 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 223 awards since 2023. Typical award: $54K. Half of all awards fall between $37K and $70K. Top provinces: Ontario 37% · Quebec 30% · British Columbia 13%. Covers: PCH Creative Export Canada — Export Development Stream only (dedicated prog_name, FY2023+, $9K–$160K, median ~$54K). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical Creative Export Canada award is $54K — the median of 223 awards since 2023. In 2025, 73 organizations were funded.

73funded in 2025
$54Ktypical award
223awards since 2023

Award size distribution. Half of awards fall between $37K and $70K, with a typical award of $54K.

Award sizes middle 50% of awards
$54K typical
Top provinces ON 37%QC 30%BC 13%
73 organizations received this grant in 2025. See the 40 most recent — and how much each received. Get Premium — $39/mo
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Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Non-repayable contribution of up to $90K per fiscal year for Canadian creative industry companies to develop their international export capacity. Covers trade show attendance, market research, international business development missions, and building export networks. Funding from this stream plus all other levels of government cannot exceed 75% of the same eligible costs, so at least a quarter of the project must be funded from non-government sources.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province, or territory
  • For-profit company or not-for-profit organization in an eligible creative industry
  • Canadian-owned and controlled with annual revenues under $10 million
  • Minimum one full-time employee (at least 30 hours/week, on salary)
  • Project must have a minimum total cost of $15,000
  • Creative content must be developed and ready for sales at the project start date, and the applicant must hold the intellectual property rights in it — or, where a third party's IP is involved, demonstrate that the rights of usage have been secured for the market(s) the project targets
  • Only one application per deadline, including entities or subsidiaries of the same parent company
  • Total financial assistance from this stream and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal — including public money received through a third party such as FACTOR, Musicaction or the Canada Media Fund) cannot exceed 75% of the same eligible project costs, so at least 25% must come from non-government sources
  • Eligible creative industries: artistic craft; audiovisual; design (limited to exhibit design, fashion design, artistic product design, public art design and urban design); music; performing arts; publishing (books and periodicals); visual art; interactive digital media (eligible only in combination with at least one of the other listed industries)
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Film Music Publishing Arts Culture Creative Industries Media
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $90,000 per fiscal year (all government funding combined capped at 75% of the same eligible costs)
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 75% of eligible costs
Deadline
Between intakes — the 2026-27 intake closed July 8, 2026; next intake to be announced fall 2026 (for expenses starting April 1, 2027)

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~20–40%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

The program serves both new and early-stage exporters building capacity and seasoned exporters entering a new market — export experience is not an eligibility test.

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Review Guidelines and Confirm Eligibility Read the Application Guidelines on the Canadian Heritage website. Confirm your organization is incorporated in Canada, in an eligible creative industry, under $10M revenue, with at least 1 full-time employee, that the project's total cost is at least $15,000, and that you hold or have secured the IP rights for the content you plan to export.

Required Documents 6

✓ Completed application form
✓ Export development plan outlining target markets and planned activities

Eligible Expenses 7

Ineligible Expenses 6

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

CanExport SMEs Ontario Creates Export Fund Creative BC Export Program SODEC Export Program
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
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How Creative Export Canada — Export Developmen... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Creative Export Canada — Export Devel... Up to $90,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Between intakes — the...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit 25% of eligible BC Moderate Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Creative Industries Funding Varies Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing (multiple...
SSHRC Partnerships Up to $2.5M Hard Advance Payment Partnership Grants:...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Creative Export Canada — Export Developmen...

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Can sole proprietors apply?
No. Must be incorporated under Canadian law (province/territory) or a not-for-profit in an eligible creative industry. Sole proprietors are ineligible.
Do I need to be new to exporting?
No. The stream serves both new and early-stage exporters building capacity and seasoned exporters expanding into new international markets. There is no export-experience eligibility test — the targeted markets can be new or existing.
What's the realistic grant amount?
$30,000–$75,000 for most applicants targeting one specific export activity (e.g., one trade show or market research in one country). The project itself must cost at least $15,000 in total.
How long does approval take?
Approximately 3–5 months after the annual deadline. Applications are reviewed in batches post-deadline; there is no rolling intake.
Why do applications fail?
Total project cost is under $15,000; the applicant cannot show it holds or has secured the IP rights for the content; the project is too broad (multiple unrelated markets); combined government funding would exceed 75% of eligible costs; or the applicant is in a category the industry list excludes (interactive digital media on its own, or design outside exhibit/fashion/artistic product/public art/urban design).
Can I stack with other programs?
Yes, within limits. Compatible with CanExport SMEs, Ontario Creates, Creative BC, and SODEC, but all government funding combined — including public money flowing through FACTOR, Musicaction or the Canada Media Fund — cannot exceed 75% of the same eligible costs.

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