The Music Fund is now acception applications for the first allocation round in 2026. The application deadline is 30 October at 15:00.‍

This will be the fund's fourth allocation. To date, it has awarded around ISK 225 million to nearly 250 projects, along with ISK 32 million in travel grants, which are issued every two months.

According to the Music Act and the Music Fund’s regulations, the fund’s role is to support Icelandic music, recording projects, and industry development. It also promotes Icelandic artists and composers both in Iceland and abroad.

Additional contribution from the City of Reykjavík

‍Reykjavík Music City and the City of Reykjavík have decided to allocate funds from the Guðjón Sigurðarson Music Fund—established by will on 14 July 1908 and now dissolved—as an additional contribution to the Music Fund’s Infrastructure and Development division. The total contribution amounts to ISK 11 million.

According to the founding charter of the Guðjón Sigurðarson Music Fund, its purpose was to ensure that residents of the capital had access to quality music, either free of charge or at modest cost. In keeping with this aim, special emphasis will be placed on supporting public concerts through Reykjavík venues and music festivals. In addition, one quarter of the contribution will be directed to children’s projects.

The Music Fund awards five grants across four departments:

Music Grants – awarded from the Creation and Release Department. Grants for composing, recording, releasing, and promoting music.
Performance Grants – awarded from the Live Performance Department. Grants for domestic concerts and concert tours. Grants are awarded directly to musicians or their representatives. Long-term grants are available.
Business Grants – awarded from the Development and Infrastructure Department. Grants for music projects such as festivals, venues, concert series, business ideas, and startups. Long-term grants are available.
Marketing Grants – awarded from the Export Department. Grants to attract attention abroad.
Travel Grants – awarded from the Export Department. Applications are submitted via the Iceland Music website every two months. Grants for travel to seek opportunities abroad.

Grants from the Music Fund are awarded for specific projects, which must generally begin within 18 months of the allocation. In principle, grants are not awarded for the operations or administration of associations, companies, or institutions that already receive regular operating support, nor for projects or events that have already taken place.

Applications will not be considered if final reports, or interim reports, for projects funded in 2022 or later have not been submitted through the application system. This applies to grants awarded from the former Music Fund and the Recording Fund, but not to the Export Fund.

Iceland Music administers the Music Fund on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education.

‍Find information and application materials here

Applications, progress reports, and final reports must be submitted electronically.

‍Workshop - The Art of Writing a Grant Application

Iceland Music invites musicians and music industry professionals to a grant writing workshop the independent consultant Julie Runge Bendsen.
The workshop will take place at Iceland Music's Offices, Austurstræti 5, on Wednesday, 8 October.

Julie has worked with numerous Icelandic musicians and companies on grant applications to the Iceland Music Fund and other funds. During the workshop, Julie will share the main methods she uses to make a grant application clear, focused and convincing. She will provide inspiration and practical advice on how to start the application process, articulate an idea effectively, connect the project to the fund’s goals, and create a realistic budget.

Julie is the founder of Pomona, which specializes in grant applications and project management for musicians and companies in the Nordic music industry. She has secured funding for, among others, Mengi, Iceland Airwaves and INNI and has advised many musicians on grant application writing. Julie also worked at the Reykjavík Music City, where she gained valuable experience in the grant environment through the Concert Venue Improvement Fund and participated in securing a substantial European grant for projects within the Music City.

Register here

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