Aims/priorities: The funding is intended to strengthen the UK's music sector by supporting sustainable and inclusive growth, developing emerging talent, enhancing grassroots music infrastructure, creating new opportunities for artists, creators and businesses, and expanding audiences and markets in the UK and internationally.
Who can apply? The Music Growth Fund is open to UK-based music industry organisations and businesses, including micro, small and medium-sized companies, sole traders, charities, CICs, not-for-profit organisations, and eligible consortia. Applications must be submitted by an authorised representative using the organisation's applicant profile.
NPOs and IPSOs may apply only for activity outside their existing Arts Council England funding agreements.
Applicants must have a UK bank account, an accountable person aged 18 or over, and, where applicable, a UK registered office.
The fund is available to organisations working across all genres of new music, including music festivals, promoters, managers, record labels, recording studios, rehearsal spaces, music publishers, grassroots music venues, sector bodies and approved sector support organisations.
New music is defined as original work recently created or performed by living, UK-based artists and music creators. Applicants must be organisations or businesses that develop, promote, platform and distribute such music for commercial exploitation.
Grant amount: Music Growth Fund grants are available through two funding strands: £1,000 to £40,000 and £40,001 to £100,000. Applicants must apply to the strand that matches their funding request.
Funding can support activities lasting up to three years.
Application process: The two strands of the Music Growth Fund (£1,000 to £40,000 and £40,001 to £100,000) have a different number of decision rounds each year. In each full year of delivery there will be ten decision rounds for the £1,000 to £40,000 strand and four decision rounds for the £40,001 to £100,000 strand.
Upcoming application periods are as follows:
Music Growth Fund: £1,000 to £40,000 strand
- Round One: 6 August 2026 to 3 September 2026
- Round Two: 4 September 2026 to 15 October 2026
- Round Three: 16 October 2026 to 26 November 2026
- Round Four: 27 November 2026 to 7 January 2027
Music Growth Fund: £40,001 to £100,000 strand
- Round One: 7 September 2026 to 1 October 2026
- Round Two: 23 November 2026 to 15 January 2027
Guidance notes and application details can be found on the Arts Council England website.
Deadline: Thursday, 3 September 2026.
Contact information: Email: MusicGrowthPackage@artscouncil.org.uk
Website: Music Growth Fund: General Guidance | Arts Council England