Australian game developers are among the luckiest in the world thanks to strong industry networks and screen agencies offering financial support. From state-specific to nationwide programs, game development funding facilitates meaningful growth in Australia’s digital games industry.
Some of these programs prioritise specific outcomes, such as prototyping, market readiness, industry employment, skills development and cultural impact. Others are more flexible and can cater to the specific needs of a particular project. All have the ability to de-risk development by providing critical financial assistance to emerging developers and established studios.
Here are the best game-specific funding rounds opening in 2026. Whether you’re at the prototype, development, or post-production stage, at least one of these grants has the potential to help you level-up your game!
Grants and funding for game devs – quick links
Production grants and funding for game devs
Screenwest Digital Games Production Fund – closes 2 March
- Value: Up to $25,000 for pre-production and post-production; up to $100,000 for production
- Important dates: Closes 5pm AWST 2 March 2026
- Eligibility: Applicants must be a Western Australian resident (with ABN) or a Western Australian resident company, and demonstrate sufficient ability and commitment (for example, by providing evidence of past experience or game credits)
This Screenwest fund provides grants to Western Australian companies and key creatives to develop and release high-quality, diverse and engaging digital games. Pre-Production, production and post-production phases of game development for PC, consoles, mobile, virtual reality, augmented reality or extended reality can be supported. The project must satisfy Screenwest’s definition of a digital game, and provide materials to establish eligibility. These materials will depend on the project’s stage of development. For example, an early-stage concept or prototype for pre-production funding; a playable digital prototype for production funding, and an existing publicly released game for post-production funding. Excluding marketing, all Screenwest funding must be spent in Western Australia. Learn more.
Screen Australia Games Production Fund – closes 5 March
- Value: Up to $100,000
- Important dates: Closes 5pm AEDT 5 March 2026
- Eligibility: Applicants must be an Australian incorporated company
The Games Production Fund offers flexible support to Australian independent gamemakers and games studios. The grant is aimed at projects that already have an early-stage prototype. This program allows Screen Australia to respond to the varied needs of gamemakers at different career stages, providing direct funding that will assist studios in meeting their goals and establishing themselves in the international games landscape. Learn more.
Screen Australia Emerging Gamemaker Fund – closes 5 March
- Value: Up to $30,000
- Important dates: Closes 5pm AEDT 5 March 2026
- Eligibility: The applicant must be an Australian sole trader or Australian incorporated company
This Screen Australia program is for Australian digital games that are at the ideation or pre-production stage of development and that target under-served audiences, recognise underrepresented experiences, or demonstrate creative innovation. Learn more.
Screen Territory Conceptual Development – closes 16 March
- Value: Up to $5000
- Important dates: Open 9 February to 16 March
- Eligibility: Applications are open to Northern Territory residents and companies; the applicant must be an emerging or established games developer who is able to demonstrate IP ownership; at least 50% of the development team must be based in the Northern Territory; and at least one team member must have a lead credit in a previously published interactive screen project relevant to the application
This Screen Territory funding supports the development of micro-prototypes demonstrating innovative game mechanics. Learn more.
Screen Territory Vertical Slice/Early Access – closes 16 March
- Value: Up to $30,000
- Important dates: Open 9 February to 16 March
- Eligibility: Applications are open to Northern Territory residents and companies; the applicant must be an emerging or established games developer who is able to demonstrate IP ownership; at least 50% of the development team must be based in the Northern Territory; and at least one team member must have a lead credit in a previously published interactive screen project relevant to the application
This Screen Territory funding contributes to polished core gameplay, enabling players to experience an accurate representation of full release gameplay. Learn more.
Screen Territory Prototype – closes 16 March
- Amount: Up to $10,000
- Important dates: Open 9 February to 16 March
- Eligibility: Applications are open to Northern Territory residents and companies; the applicant must be an emerging or established games developer who is able to demonstrate IP ownership; at least 50% of the development team must be based in the Northern Territory; and at least one team member must have a lead credit in a previously published interactive screen project relevant to the application
This Screen Territory funding contributes to significant development of a digital game prototype in order to illustrate core gameplay and demonstrate key differentiators to market competitors. Learn more.
Screen Queensland Games Grants – apply anytime
- Value: Up to $300,000
- Important dates: This is a rolling fund, apply anytime
- Eligibility: Applicants must be a Queensland resident game development company or individual who can demonstrate IP ownership (commissioned projects are not eligible)
Screen Queensland’s Games Grants are open to applications from both emerging and established games developers. At least 75% of the development team must be based in Queensland unless an exemption is granted. Funding caps vary depending on the project production target such as prototype, vertical slice/early access and full game release. Grants of up to $200,000 are available with a total of $300,000 in grants available for any single project over its lifetime. Learn more.
Read: Screen Canberra and ACT Government announce new Screen and Games Fund
Professional development and travel grants for game devs
Screenwest Workshops and Masterclasses Fund – closes 12 January
- Value: Up to $25,000 per activity
- Important dates: Submissions close 5pm AWST 12 January
- Eligibility: Applicants must be a Western Australian resident (with ABN) or a Western Australian resident company (as defined in the Screenwest Terms of Trade)
This Screenwest fund supports the delivery of professional skills development opportunities for Western Australian screen practitioners. Activities delivered must address identified skills gaps in the WA industry, targeting scripted development, documentary skills development, below-the-line training and digital games. Learn more.
Screen NSW The International Travel Fund – current round closes 30 June
- Value: Up to $5000 for one key creative; or up to $6000 for two or more key creatives
- Important dates: The current round closes 30 June; the next round opens 1 July
- Eligibility: Applicants must be NSW-based creatives (with ABN) attached to the proposed project/s being taken to the festival or market; for market travel, applicants must be attending a recognised screen industry market, and hold the rights to the project; and for festival travel, applicants must be invited to represent project/s with confirmed screenings in the program of an approved festival or awards program
The Screen NSW International Travel Fund supports NSW screen practitioners for travel related to significant international festivals, markets, awards, industry trade missions and financing projects. The objectives of this program are to nurture NSW talent and strengthen global connections that will shape the future of NSW’s creative landscape. Learn more.
Screenwest Professional Development Placement – apply anytime
- Value: Up to $25,000 per placement
- Important dates: This fund accepts applications at any time
- Eligibility: Applicants must be Western Australian residents over 18 who demonstrate a track record in their field that aligns with the placement opportunity, and display an ongoing commitment to being a part of the screen industry in Western Australia; however consideration will be given to First Nations practitioners who do not meet the above criteria but can demonstrate the placement opportunity will provide significant benefit to Western Australia
This Screenwest fund recognises that highly skilled practitioners are vital for the long-term growth of the screen industry in Western Australia. It assists the professional development of Western Australian above-the-line key creatives, below-the-line crew, and digital games developers who have been offered an exceptional national or international placement with a reputable company or provider. The fund’s primary focus is placements in identified skill gaps areas in the Western Australian screen industry. Only a few exceptional opportunities will be supported each year. Learn more.
Screen Tasmania Training and Placements – apply anytime
- Value: N/A
- Important dates: This is a rolling program, apply anytime
- Eligibility: Applicants must be an early or emerging Tasmanian-resident screen practitioner, who can demonstrate commitment to a career in drama, comedy, factual, documentary or games production
Screen Tasmania is committed to growing the skills of local practitioners. Through its Industry Development training program, there are three types of on-the-job paid opportunities available across professional productions. Productions wanting to film in Tasmania with support from the Production Support Program will be encouraged to employ one or more of the following opportunities. There are attachments, placements and traineeships. Positions can be in linear scripted and unscripted/documentary productions such as film, television, online or in games development. Learn more.
