Berlin-based musicians and bands can now apply for the Musicboard’s Scholarship PLUS and residencies. The application deadline is 2 March 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Exchanging ideas and networking at the VILA SUL residency in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, getting to know the underground music scene in Kampala, Uganda, two months of collaborative work in a feminist community in Accra, Ghana, or working on your own project in Berlin with professional support? From now until the application deadline on 2 March 2026 at 9:30 a.m., musicians and artists from all genres and areas of pop music who live and work in Berlin can apply for Musicboard’s Scholarship PLUS and residencies. Musicboard defines pop music as all genres and styles that cannot be clearly categorised as classical, new music, or jazz. This includes all forms of genre-spanning and experimental pop music. The allocation of funding is subject to the availability of funds.
ONLINE INFO SESSION
Musicboard will provide information about the current call for concepts in an online session held jointly with Music Pool Berlin and Kreativ Kultur Berlin. On 10 February 2026 at 5 p.m., interested parties will have the opportunity to join a Zoom conference to ask questions about the residencies and scholarships, and the PLUS mentoring and coaching programme. Information on the funding criteria and the application process will also be provided. Prior registration is not necessary.
Join via Zoom
SCHOLARSHIP PLUS
The Musicboard scholarships support Berlin-based musicians and bands in realising a self-defined project. They are intended to foster individual artistic development and professionalisation and can, for example, be used for album and video productions, promotion and marketing measures, songwriting phases, or the development of artistic collaborations and co-productions.
The Musicboard scholarships are awarded in combination with the mentoring and coaching programme PLUS. In addition to the financial support provided by the scholarship, PLUS offers selected musicians individual mentoring by experts. These mentors accompany the scholarship holders over several months as they work on their projects. The mentoring is complemented by coaching sessions tailored to the individual needs of the musicians. PLUS thus provides comprehensive support for professional development. The programme’s community events also create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and sustainable connections between musicians. Applying for PLUS is optional but strongly recommended.
RESIDENCIES
In 2026 there will be only one application deadline for the Musicboard’s residency programme. Applications for the co-creation residencies Accra / Berlin, Detroit / Berlin and Kampala / Berlin, as well as for the residencies in Salvador de Bahia, Ris-Orangis/Paris, Sternhagen Gut in the Uckermark region, and Hellerau in Dresden, can be submitted by the deadline of 2 March 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
The Musicboard’s residency programme enables Berlin pop musicians to undertake working residencies in Germany and abroad. As part of the co-creation residency formats, the Musicboard also hosts international musicians for residency stays in Berlin. The residencies aim to internationalise Berlin’s pop music scene and to establish sustainable, transnational co-production structures. They provide space for interdisciplinary exchange and artistic experimentation.
The residency at Villa Aurora in Los Angeles will not be advertised in 2026. Due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles in early 2025, Villa Aurora remains closed. Individual options for rescheduling the residency are being developed for all Villa Aurora residents whose stays cannot take place due to the current situation. As soon as reopening is possible, the residency programme and the cooperation will be resumed. Up-to-date information on the situation at Villa Aurora can be found on the website of Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e. V.
NEW JURY MEMBERS
Funding is awarded on the recommendation of a six-member independent jury made up of experts from Berlin’s music scene. In 2026, Musicboard welcomes three new jury members. From now on, music journalist Melanie Gollin, consultant and strategist Marit Posch, and cultural journalist, presenter and podcaster Yannick Niang will also advise on the applications. Peer Steinwald, Ebru »Ebow« Düzgün and Yeşim Duman remain members of the jury. The Musicboard would like to extend its sincere thanks to Aida Baghernejad, Ji-Hun Kim, and Misla Tesfamariam, who are leaving the jury after three years.
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