Deadline Date: February 12, 2026
The NSW Government administered by Sound NSW under the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport supports local music events that build new audiences and encourage the participation of young people.
The program supports contemporary music events and festivals to deliver new programming and activities that builds audiences, promotes NSW music, supports local music collaboration and provides opportunities for community connection through music, aiming to build audiences and promote NSW music, increase local artist engagement with their local music scene or community, increase opportunities for all ages music event programming, strengthen community participation particularly in Western Sydney and regional NSW, and amplify the work of priority communities to build a diverse contemporary music sector.
This grant provides up to $100,000 to support new or additional programming costs for contemporary music events and festivals, including artists fees, marketing and promotion, travel and accommodation costs, and administrative costs. Funding is available to music businesses and industry professionals to generate new activity through the delivery of contemporary music events and festivals.
To be eligible, contemporary music events and festivals must be presented in NSW, be majority Australian owned, program new and original contemporary music, have a maximum capacity of 15,000 or have a primary focus of First Nations cultural priorities or be based in regional NSW or Western Sydney, collaborate with local venues and community organisations to deliver new activity that supports growth in audiences, provide opportunities for local community connection, predominantly program local music artists and acts, and program artists from NSW Government priority groups. The event or festival may be new or established, ticketed or free to the public, and may take place in existing venues or outdoor spaces.
For more information, visit NSW Government.
