NXTNOW OPPORTUNITIES
Music grants, showcases & contests for music creators
Funding, showcase slots, songwriting and beat contests, and development programs for emerging artists and producers. Every deadline is checked monthly.
- Open or rolling
- 12
- Listed
- 31
- Last checked
- Oct 16
Closing soon
Next 60 days- Composers' FundUK · closes Oct 19, 2026
- PPL Momentum Music FundUK · closes Oct 26, 2026
- SXSW 2027 Music ShowcaseGlobal (Austin, TX) · closes Nov 20, 2026
- Trailblazer FundUK · closes Nov 20, 2026
- International Showcase FundUK · closes Nov 27, 2026
Browse all opportunities
Composers' Fund
PRS Foundation · UK
Funding for new work (see fund page)
- Deadline
- Oct 19, 2026
- Who
- Composers
- Genres
- Composition (any style)
- Entry fee
- Free
Deadline extended from 7 Oct to 19 Oct 2026.
Apply → for Composers' Fund (opens in a new tab)PPL Momentum Music Fund
PRS Foundation & PPL · UK
Funding for recording, touring and marketing (see fund page)
- Deadline
- Oct 26, 2026
- Who
- Artists at a career-development tipping point
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Round opened 28 Sep 2026. Four rounds a year.
Apply → for PPL Momentum Music Fund (opens in a new tab)SXSW 2027 Music Showcase
SXSW · Global (Austin, TX)
Official showcase slot
- Deadline
- Nov 20, 2026
- Dates
- 15-21 Mar 2027
- Who
- Artists worldwide
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Tiered fee (rises after early windows)
Lowest rate closed 1 Sep 2026; final deadline 20 Nov. UK acts can pair with the International Showcase Fund.
Apply → for SXSW 2027 Music Showcase (opens in a new tab)International Showcase Fund
PRS Foundation · UK
Travel and showcase costs
- Deadline
- Nov 27, 2026
- Dates
- SXSW 2027 rounds: 23 Sep, 27 Nov 2026, 6 Jan 2027
- Who
- Artists invited to showcase abroad (e.g. SXSW)
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Rolling rounds tied to specific international showcases.
Apply → for International Showcase Fund (opens in a new tab)The Great Escape 2027
The Great Escape · Global (Brighton, UK)
Festival showcase slot
- Deadline
- Feb 15, 2027
- Dates
- 12-15 May 2027
- Who
- Emerging artists worldwide
- Genres
- All genres (emerging)
- Entry fee
- Free
No reply by 31 Mar 2027 = not selected.
Apply → for The Great Escape 2027 (opens in a new tab)Trailblazer Fund
Youth Music · UK
See fund page
- Deadline
- Nov 20, 2026
- Dates
- Window 23 Oct - 20 Nov 2026
- Who
- Young creatives (check age limits)
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Three windows in 2026; this is the last.
Apply → for Trailblazer Fund (opens in a new tab)Dolly Parton Songwriters Award
BMI Foundation · US
USD 20,000 (up to two songwriters)
- Timing
- Expected 2027-01-15
- Who
- Ages 17-24, US residents, songs not with a major
- Genres
- Country, Americana, Folk, Roots, Bluegrass
- Entry fee
- Free
2026 deadline was 15 Jan.
Apply → for Dolly Parton Songwriters Award (opens in a new tab)John Lennon Award
BMI Foundation · US
Three scholarships totalling USD 20,000
- Timing
- Expected 2027-01-15
- Who
- Ages 17-24, US residents, unpublished songs
- Genres
- Pop, Rock, Alt, Indie, R&B, Electronic
- Entry fee
- Free
Deadline is typically mid-January.
Apply → for John Lennon Award (opens in a new tab)Women Make Music
PRS Foundation · UK
See fund page
- Timing
- TBC (planned second half of 2026)
- Who
- See fund page for eligibility
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Watch for the announcement.
Apply → for Women Make Music (opens in a new tab)FACTOR Live Performance
FACTOR · Canada
Live performance support
- Timing
- Rolling, year-round
- Who
- Canadian artists
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Open throughout 2026.
Apply → for FACTOR Live Performance (opens in a new tab)FACTOR Songwriter Development
FACTOR · Canada
See program page
- Timing
- Rolling, year-round
- Who
- Canadian songwriters
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Open throughout 2026.
Apply → for FACTOR Songwriter Development (opens in a new tab)Goethe-Institut Mobility Grants
Goethe-Institut · Africa
Travel/mobility funding
- Timing
- Rolling, year-round
- Who
- Artists in Sub-Saharan, Southern and West Africa
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Useful for Afrobeats artists travelling to showcases.
Apply → for Goethe-Institut Mobility Grants (opens in a new tab)A3C Festival & Conference
A3C · US (Atlanta)
Festival performance slot
- Timing
- Not confirmed
- Who
- Hip-hop artists
- Genres
- Hip-Hop
- Entry fee
- Not stated
Historically took artist submissions; confirm current process.
Details → for A3C Festival & Conference (opens in a new tab)AMERICANAFEST Showcase
Americana Music Association · US (Nashville)
Official showcase slot
- Timing
- 2027 window not yet announced
- Who
- Americana artists
- Genres
- Americana, Country, Folk, Roots
- Entry fee
- See FAQ
Details in the Submissions section of the AMERICANAFEST FAQ.
Apply → for AMERICANAFEST Showcase (opens in a new tab)American Songwriter Song Contest
American Songwriter · Global
See contest page
- Timing
- Check current round
- Who
- Songwriters
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Entry fee
Runs regular rounds; confirm dates and fee.
Details → for American Songwriter Song Contest (opens in a new tab)Electronic Music Award
Help Musicians x DJ Mag · UK
See award page
- Timing
- TBC (2025 deadline was 29 Aug)
- Who
- Electronic artists and producers
- Genres
- Electronic
- Entry fee
- Free
Strong fit for producers.
Apply → for Electronic Music Award (opens in a new tab)HOFA Song Contest
HOFA · Global
Prizes worth over EUR 32,000 (2026)
- Timing
- Check current cycle
- Who
- Musicians, bands and producers
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Not stated
Confirm on HOFA's own contest page.
Details → for HOFA Song Contest (opens in a new tab)International Songwriting Competition (ISC)
ISC · Global
Prizes vary by year
- Timing
- Check current cycle (2025 extended deadline was 24 Nov)
- Who
- Songwriters worldwide
- Genres
- 24 categories incl. Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Rock, Country, EDM, Americana
- Entry fee
- USD 25-35 per entry (2025 cycle)
Fees rise by deadline tier.
Apply → for International Songwriting Competition (ISC) (opens in a new tab)MOBO Help Musicians Amplified
MOBO & Help Musicians · UK
See programme page
- Timing
- Opened 2 Jun 2026 - check
- Who
- Emerging artists
- Genres
- Black music genres (hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, etc.)
- Entry fee
- Free
New Music Creator Fund
New Music USA · US
Up to USD 5,000 (avg ~USD 3,000); 50-60 grants a year
- Timing
- Expected fall cycle - check
- Who
- Individual creators via regional partners
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
2026 awardees announced; next cycle not yet confirmed.
Apply → for New Music Creator Fund (opens in a new tab)Panama Crossroads Global Beat Battle
Panama Crossroads · Global
Festival stage slot (2026 edition)
- Timing
- Check current cycle
- Who
- Emerging producers worldwide
- Genres
- Beats / production
- Entry fee
- Not stated
Sauti za Busara
Busara Promotions · Africa (Zanzibar)
Festival slot
- Timing
- 2027 open call not confirmed
- Who
- African artists
- Genres
- African music (incl. Afrobeats, Afro-fusion)
- Entry fee
- Not stated
2026 open call was published on Music In Africa.
Details → for Sauti za Busara (opens in a new tab)Sundance Film Music & Sound Design Lab
Sundance Institute · US / Global
Lab residency with mentors
- Timing
- Check current cycle
- Who
- Composers and sound designers
- Genres
- Film scoring and sound design
- Entry fee
- Not stated
Good fit for producers moving into sync and scoring.
Apply → for Sundance Film Music & Sound Design Lab (opens in a new tab)Folk Alliance International - Official Showcase
Folk Alliance International · Global (Chicago, 2027)
Official showcase slot at FAI conference
- Timing
- Next cycle (2028) expected ~spring 2027 · check back
- Dates
- 27-31 Jan 2027, Chicago
- Who
- Folk and roots artists
- Genres
- Folk, Americana, Roots
- Entry fee
- Not stated
2027 artists already announced.
Apply → for Folk Alliance International - Official Showcase (opens in a new tab)NPR Tiny Desk Contest
NPR Music · US
Tiny Desk concert, industry mentor, 10-city tour
- Timing
- Expected ~Feb 2027 · check back
- Dates
- 2026 entries opened Jan, closed 9 Feb
- Who
- Unsigned artists (check FAQ for country/age)
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
Enter with a video of one original song filmed behind a desk.
Apply → for NPR Tiny Desk Contest (opens in a new tab)Open Fund for Music Creators
PRS Foundation · UK
Grants up to GBP 5,000
- Timing
- Expected ~Mar 2027 · check back
- Who
- Music creators at any career level
- Genres
- All genres
- Entry fee
- Free
2026 rounds closed 18 Mar and 7 Sep. Rounds opened Feb and Aug in 2026.
Apply → for Open Fund for Music Creators (opens in a new tab)Salt Lick Incubator Artist Project Grant
Salt Lick Incubator · US
USD 5,000-15,000 project grants
- Timing
- Expected ~mid-Feb 2027 · check back
- Dates
- 2026 window was 2 Jan - 15 Feb
- Who
- US-eligible, 18+, own masters, no label contract, max 3 albums
- Genres
- Melody- and lyric-driven genres
- Entry fee
- Free
The Hitmaker Fund
PRS Foundation · UK
See fund page
- Timing
- Expected ~Feb-Mar 2027 · check back
- Who
- Songwriters and producers
- Genres
- Songwriting
- Entry fee
- Free
Latest round closed 28 Sep 2026; 2026 rounds opened Feb and Sep.
Apply → for The Hitmaker Fund (opens in a new tab)Thomann Beatmaking Contest
Thomann · Global
Gear prizes
- Timing
- Expected ~Jul 2027 · check back
- Dates
- 2026 ran 25 Jun - 12 Jul
- Who
- Beatmakers and producers
- Genres
- Any (hip-hop, trap, house, lo-fi, drill...)
- Entry fee
- Free
30-60 sec beat using its sample pack, posted with the contest hashtag.
Apply → for Thomann Beatmaking Contest (opens in a new tab)Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program (with Berklee)
Tiwa Savage Music Foundation · Nigeria / Africa
Fully funded 4-day Berklee-led intensive in Lagos (100 places)
- Timing
- Expected ~Mar 2027 · check back
- Dates
- 2026 window 24 Feb - 20 Mar; program 23-26 Apr
- Who
- Emerging African creatives
- Genres
- Afrobeats, African pop (all)
- Entry fee
- Free
Confirm the foundation's official application page.
Details → for Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program (with Berklee) (opens in a new tab)USA Songwriting Competition
USA Songwriting Competition · Global
Top prize package ~USD 50,000 cash and merchandise
- Timing
- Expected ~May 2027 · check back
- Dates
- 2026 deadline was 29 May
- Who
- Songwriters worldwide
- Genres
- Pop, Rock/Alt, Folk, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, more
- Entry fee
- Entry fee (amount not confirmed)
Nothing open in that combination right now. Untick "Only show open" to see what's coming next cycle.
Never miss a deadline
One email a month with what's closing soon. Music Accelerator members also get reminders for saved opportunities.
How we keep this accurate
- Every listing is checked against the organizer's own site each month.
- A date is shown as a deadline only once it's confirmed for the current cycle.
- Recurring opportunities between cycles are marked "Next cycle" with the expected timing.
Got the slot? Plan the rollout.
Build the EPK for your application, track every submission, and plan the release around your showcase date with the Music Accelerator.
Explore the Music Accelerator →Questions
Does NxtNow run these opportunities?
No. They're run by the organizations on each card. We collect them in one place and link to the official application pages.
Are they free to apply for?
Most grants are free. Some showcases and contests charge an entry fee, shown on each card.
How often is this list updated?
Every listing is checked monthly against the organizer's own site. Last checked Oct 16, 2026.
Can I suggest an opportunity?
Yes. Email info@nxtnowmusic.com with the link and we'll review it for the next update.
NxtNow Music isn't affiliated with the organizations listed. Always confirm eligibility, fees and deadlines on the official page before applying.