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NSW Contemporary Music Festivals 2026/27

NSW Contemporary Music Festivals 2026/27

  • Festivals with a capacity of up to 12,000 people can apply for up to $100,000.
  • Festivals with a capacity of more than 12,000 people can apply for up to $250,000.
  • 50% of the program budget will be allocated to activities delivered in Western Sydney and regional NSW.
  • Additional priority will be given to events supporting NSW Government priority groups.
  • Activities are expected to run from 1 February 2027 to 28 February 2028.
  • Applications close on November 9 2026 at 2:00 pm
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The NSW Contemporary Music Festivals 2026/27 program supports locally driven contemporary music festivals that build audiences, promote NSW music and strengthen connections between artists, music businesses, venues and communities. Funding is available for single-day or multi-day festivals, multi-stage live music events and precinct-based activities that encourage music discovery and community participation.

Eligible festivals may be new or established, ticketed or free, and delivered in existing venues or outdoor public locations. They must present new and original contemporary music, predominantly feature local artists and engage artists from NSW Government priority groups. Applicants must also collaborate with local venues or community organisations.

Funding can support artist fees, festival staff, production, promotion, travel, accommodation and administration. Priority is given to activities in Western Sydney and regional NSW and events that contribute to a diverse, sustainable and connected contemporary music sector.

Key Requirements

  • Build audiences and promote NSW music: Festivals must demonstrate how they will attract and grow audiences for contemporary music and strengthen the local music ecosystem.
  • Strengthen local collaboration: Activities must support collaboration between artists, venues, music businesses, community organisations and local communities.
  • Create community connections: Festivals must provide meaningful opportunities for communities to connect through contemporary music.
  • Support local artists: Festivals must predominantly program local music artists and acts and provide opportunities for artists to engage with their local music scene.
  • Deliver inclusive programming: Applicants must demonstrate their approach to diversity and inclusion, including engagement with NSW Government priority groups.
  • Demonstrate community connection: Applicants must provide evidence of previous experience, successful community partnerships and consultation relevant to the proposed festival.
  • Present a viable activity: Applicants must demonstrate the capability to manage the festival, budget and delivery timetable, supported by appropriate compliance documentation.
  • Develop sustainable business models: Applications should demonstrate partnership and investment opportunities proportionate to the size and capacity of the festival.
  • Pay minimum musician fees: Musicians participating in publicly funded events must receive a minimum performance fee of $250 plus superannuation.
  • Support strategic locations and communities: Fifty per cent of the program budget will be directed to activity in Western Sydney and regional NSW. Additional priority will be given to events supporting NSW Government priority groups.

 

What is eligible for funding?

Funding may support:

  • Locally driven, single-day or multi-day live music festivals.
  • Multi-stage contemporary music festivals.
  • Festivals showcasing emerging artists and connecting them with new and diverse audiences.
  • Live music precinct events involving local venues and businesses.
  • Festivals in regional NSW and Western Sydney that program local artists and collaborate with local venues and businesses.
  • Artist fees.
  • Salaries, wages and fees for staff and industry professionals delivering the festival.
  • Festival production costs.
  • Marketing and promotional activities.
  • Travel and accommodation costs.
  • Administrative costs associated with programming and presenting the festival

What companies are eligible for funding?

Funding is available to:

  • Music businesses based in NSW.
  • Music industry professionals based in NSW.
  • Applicants with an active Australian Business Number.
  • Applicants with a bank account held in the same name as their Australian Business Number.

The proposed festival must:

  • Be presented in NSW.
  • Be advertised and marketed as a music festival.
  • Position music as its core focus.
  • Operate under a single festival banner.
  • Have a collective running time of at least five hours.
  • Present new and original contemporary music.
  • Predominantly program local music artists and acts.
  • Program artists from NSW Government priority groups.
  • Collaborate with local venues and community organisations.
  • Provide opportunities for local community connection.

The festival may be new or established, ticketed or free, and delivered over one or multiple consecutive days. It may take place in existing venues or outdoor locations available for public use.

Applicants may submit only one application to one Local Audience Development Grants program in each financial year. Applicants may receive no more than two competitive Sound NSW grants in a financial year.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here. 

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.