Spain’s Ministry of Culture has introduced a new public funding program aimed at strengthening live music venues, with an initial budget of €1 million to support improvements in infrastructure, equipment, and digital capabilities across the country.
The initiative was announced by Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun during a meeting with representatives of the live music sector held at a well-known venue in Madrid. The program seeks to reinforce the role of live music venues as essential platforms for cultural diversity and emerging artists.
The grants are designed not only to upgrade physical facilities but also to promote digital transformation and the adoption of new technologies, improving audience experiences and enabling innovative business models within the live music industry.
TDB keeps you informed. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Spain launches new funding scheme to support live music venues
Individual venues will be eligible for grants ranging from €8,000 to €50,000, awarded through a competitive selection process. The scheme takes a comprehensive approach, aiming to enhance accessibility, support environmental sustainability, create cultural employment, expand touring opportunities for emerging artists, and encourage a more decentralised live music scene.
Live music venues with regular programming play a crucial role as cultural access points, creative spaces, and meeting places between artists and audiences. This new funding line is intended to strengthen their long-term sustainability and professional capacity.
National circuits and additional support
Alongside this new program, the Ministry will continue to support existing initiatives. In 2026, €600,000 will be allocated to the Red de Salas circuit, which is expected to benefit at least 40 live music venues nationwide and facilitate artist mobility.
The circuit is managed by ACCES, the national association representing private live music venues, and focuses on supporting diverse programming and expanding touring opportunities. Concerts within this network are scheduled to begin in March.
The Ministry also continues to promote the Girando Por Salas program, a long-running initiative launched in 2010 to support emerging artists by enabling them to perform outside their home regions. The program currently operates with a €1 million budget, with concerts taking place between December 2025 and May 2026.
Together, these measures reinforce Spain’s commitment to a stronger, more inclusive, and geographically balanced live music ecosystem, recognizing live venues as a cornerstone of contemporary cultural life.