Allocation of Funding: Project Funding – 1st Funding Round 2026

In the first funding round for 2026, Musicboard Berlin is supporting 27 projects with a total volume of 409,783.00 euros. Funding is awarded to projects within the funding programmes Karrieresprungbrett Berlin, Pop im Kiez, and Festival Funding. Musicboard additionally co-funds ERDF and ESF funding for Music Pool Berlin and Clubcommission, and supports Rockhaus Berlin.

In the first funding round for 2026, 92 applications with a total volume of 1,873,749.93 euros were submitted to Musicboard Berlin in the funding programmes Karrieresprungbrett Berlin, Pop im Kiez, and Festival Funding. The application deadline was on 1 November 2025. The jury recommended 27 projects with a total volume of 409,783.00 euros for funding.

The jury placed great importance on projects that reflect the social and cultural diversity of Berlin’s music scene, e.g. events with gender-balanced line-ups or a focus on accessibility and inclusion. Also, projects that enrich the scene with innovative ideas and perform important development work in the area of promoting young talent in Berlin are particularly supported.

Funding is awarded through Musicboard Berlin GmbH upon recommendation of an independent jury of Berlin-based pop experts. In 2026, the jury for the project funding consists of Edna Martinez (DJ, curator for music & sonic practices at Haus der Kulturen der Welt), Melissa Kolukisagil (curator and producer, founder of İç İçe – Festival for New Anatolian Music), Silvia Silko (journalist for Tagesspiegel, radioeins, Deutschlandfunk), Ulrich Hartmann (musician and performer, project manager at the inclusive music project luftsprung live), and Wieland Krämer (musician, co-founder of Powerline Agency and Flirt99 Musikverlag).

KARRIERESPRUNGBRETT BERLIN

Karrieresprungbrett Berlin funds projects and platforms – from concert and club series, workshops and talks to interdisciplinary formats – that support up-and-coming artists and other newcomers from the pop music business and help boost their careers on a national or international level. For this programme 37 applications were submitted. The total volume of all applications amounted to 645.221,40 euros, with 136,139.00 euros being awarded to 11 projects.

POP IM KIEZ

The programme Pop im Kiez funds projects – whether pilots, campaigns or a series of initiatives – that increase the acceptance of live music in the pop music domain within a particular neighbourhood in Berlin. It’s a response to the current displacement of subcultural spaces in Berlin and intends to support musicians and their networks that are based in a particular neighbourhood scene. For Pop im Kiez 18 applications were submitted. The total volume of all applications amounted to 307,381.00 euros, with 73,962.00 euros being awarded to 5 projects.

FESTIVAL FUNDING

The programme Festival Funding supports Berlin pop music festivals with the aim to generate perspectives for action and planning. Particular focus is on festivals involving up-and-coming talents in music and the music industry. For Festival Funding 37 applications were submitted. The total volume of all applications amounted to 921,147.53 euros, with 199,682.00 euros being awarded to 11 projects.

FURTHER FUNDED PROJECTS

In addition to the projects recommended by the jury, Musicboard funds Rockhaus Berlin, Music Pool Berlin and the Clubcomission. Music Pool and Clubcommission are funded by the European Union (ESF/European Social Funds and ERDF/European Regional Development Fund) and co-funded by Musicboard.