CFAs: All-Ages Live Music Programming 2026/27 (Australia)

Sound NSW (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport) offers the All-Ages Live Music Programming 2026/27 grant to support all-ages contemporary music events that build new audiences and include young people in the design and delivery. The program provides up to $100,000 (ex GST) to deliver a series of minimum 4 events. The application opens 29 September 2026 and closes 9 November 2026 at 2:00 pm (time zone not specified in the source). Opportunity at a Glance

- Provider: Sound NSW (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport), funded by the NSW Government

- Opportunity name: All-Ages Live Music Programming – 2026/27

- Opportunity type: Grants (Local Audience Development Grants)

- Grant amount: Up to $100,000 (ex GST) to deliver a series of all-ages events (minimum 4)

- Status: Open

- Eligible applicants: Industry professionals and music businesses based in NSW (see eligibility section)

- Eligible location/activity: Events must be presented in NSW

- Application deadline: 9 November 2026, 2:00 pm (time zone not specified in the source)

- Activity period: Must not start before 1 February 2027 and must be completed by 29 February 2028

- Priority geographic funding split: 50% of the program budget allocated to applications for Western Sydney and regional NSW

- Application limits (per applicant):

- Submit one application to one Local Audience Development Grants program per financial year - Receive no more than two Sound NSW grants in competitive programs per financial year

About the Opportunity

This funding program supports industry professionals and music businesses with a track record of delivering all-ages contemporary music events and a commitment to collaborating with young people to program a series of events (minimum 4) that build new audiences.

The program aims to:

- build new live music audiences in NSW - increase the number and diversity of all-ages live music events across NSW - create performance opportunities for emerging and established NSW artists - build participation pathways for young people in live music programming and production - deliver safe, accessible, and compliant events - strengthen community participation, particularly in Western Sydney and regional NSW - contribute to a sustainable, youth-inclusive live music ecosystem Funding and Benefits

- Maximum grant: Up to $100,000 (ex GST)

- Minimum delivery requirement: A series of at least four (4) all-ages events

- Event types allowed:

- events can be new or established - events can be ticketed or free - events can take place in existing venues or outdoor locations for public use - venues may apply age limitations as allowed by relevant all-ages compliance conditions (including “under 18’s only”) - Costs that funding can support (up to the grant cap) include presenting all-ages music events, such as: - artist fees - consultation fees for young people - project management fees for design and delivery, including appointing a youth partner - mentorship, training, or youth participation in programming/production - production costs to deliver the all-ages events - salaries, wages and fees for staff and industry professionals involved in delivery - travel and accommodation - targeted marketing campaigns engaging young audiences - development of audience data and reporting systems for evaluation - program administrative costs, including compliance documentation and post-event reporting - Costs not eligible include (among other items listed): - purchase of equipment - infrastructure and capital works - costs incurred before the advertised activity start date - fundraising, donations, awards, prize money, or competitions - costs that directly support delivery of course requirements of an educational program or course Who Is Eligible? Who can apply Funding is available for industry professionals and music businesses. Mandatory applicant requirements

Recipients must:

- be currently based in NSW - have an active ABN (Australian Business Number) - have a bank account with the same name as your ABN Mandatory event requirements

Your all-ages live music events must:

- be presented in NSW - program new and original contemporary music - predominantly program local music artists and acts - program artists from NSW Government priority groups - include a relevant youth partner to collaborate on the design and delivery of the event series (youth partner can include organisations, collectives, and promoters) - provide significant outcomes for young people aged 12 to 24 years - be committed to best industry practices and have formal arrangements establishing payments for artist performances Key definitions and delivery minimums - A minimum of four (4) all-ages events must be delivered. - “Young people” means those aged 12 to 24 included in the design and delivery of these events. - Events may be ticketed or free, and can occur in existing venues or outdoor public-use locations. Art forms not supported

The program does not support:

- experimental music and sound art - music theatre - contemporary classical, opera, choral and ensembles The source directs these applicants to Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) guidelines. (Exact link not provided in the supplied text.) Funding priority (additional guidance) - 50% of the program budget allocated to applications for activity in Western Sydney and regional NSW. - Additional priority given to events supporting NSW Government priority groups. Who can’t apply

Not eligible:

- applicants not organising all-ages events in collaboration with a youth partner - applicants that are already received two Sound NSW grants in competitive programs per financial year (based on the closing date) - applicants with outstanding acquittals from previous NSW Government funding - applicants planning festivals or one-off events (the source instructs to refer to Contemporary Music Festivals) - applicants delivering events in the excluded art forms listed above -