Announcing our Grants Categories 2026
We are delighted to announce our funding focus round for 2026. As with our 2025 giving, we will only consider applications that are specific to each round and are entered into our Grants System by 5pm on the deadline day, there are no exceptions to this rule. If you are considering making an application to us, please make sure that you read our grant guidelines and FAQs so that you understand our exclusions, staged approach and time-frames for making awards. The Stage 1 application form becomes available on the day the grant round opens.
Round 1 – Stage 1 will open on 13 January and close on 27 January
Focus: Music festivals (children’s performances excluded as are festivals where music is not the focus)
We are particularly interested in festivals that are designed to support cultural provision in areas where this may otherwise lack. As an arts funder, we are interested in supporting performers and performance aspects of your music festival rather than overall festival production costs and overheads. We will also consider the artistic quality of the proposed music programme and performers involved in our decision making.
Round 2 – Stage 1 will open on Tuesday 12 May and close on 26 May
Focus: Early-career artists performance programmes focussing on performance opportunities
We are looking for high quality programmes offering early career artists opportunities to advance their training and development towards performance. We will consider applications for Dance, Drama and Music. We define early career as those at the early stages of a professional art-related career, who have already demonstrated a clear commitment to pursuing their practice beyond an amateur or hobby level.
Round 3 – Stage 1 will open on Tuesday 1 September and close on 15 September
Focus: Children’s and young people’s music education (choirs are excluded)
We are interested in programmes which give children and young people opportunities to Learn, Create, Experience and Progress. We have a particular interest in applications which concentrate on teaching instrumental playing.