German grassroots Live Music Fund set to launch in 2026
A new Live Music Fund aims to promote diversity and safeguard the future of live music culture in Germany.
Germany is preparing to launch a new grassroots Live Music Fund in 2026, designed to support small venues, emerging artists and independent promoters. The initiative was announced during the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg and will officially begin on 1 January 2026. It is being led by the Bundesstiftung LiveKultur, Germany’s Federal Foundation for Live Culture, with the goal of creating a stronger and more sustainable ecosystem for live music.
Similar initiatives have already taken place in the UK, such as the Royal Albert Hall ticket levy to support grassroots music venues.
The fund was unveiled during a Reeperbahn panel titled “Imagine Togetherness – securing the future of live music,” where representatives from politics, venues and the industry emphasised the need for greater solidarity and importance of working together to support smaller stages. This mirrors the LIVE Trust in the UK, which also encourages collaboration to secure the future of grassroots music spaces.
Funding will come from a solidarity contribution collected via ticketing platforms, venues and promoters, alongside an option for voluntary donations. The plan is industry-led so those within the sector can direct support to where it is needed most. The Ticketing Business reports that more than 50 founding partners have already signed up, including clubs, festivals, associations and ticketing operators such as Delta Concerts, Olympic Park Munich and ticket i/O. Organisers are still recruiting partners ahead of the 2026 start.
Money raised will be split across three main pillars. Firstly, there will be direct support for small venues and emerging artists to help with day-to-day running costs. Secondly, the fund will offer occupancy insurance to underwrite loss-making shows at venues with capacities up to 2,000. Thirdly, it will invest in structural measures – projects that improve sustainability, inclusion, diversity and training in the live sector. These three focuses are designed to keep small venues running day-to-day, while also laying the groundwork for a stronger and more sustainable future.”
If the ticket-levy approach feels familiar, that’s because markets such as the UK and France have already trialled it. The aim is to provide a steady flow of funding across the sector, ensuring that small venues can survive and emerging artists continue to have places to perform and grow.
This follows trends highlighted in the UK, where live music spend hit a record £6.7bn in 2024, yet grassroots venues continue to struggle, a stark example of the widening gap between big stadium tours and the venues that nurture new talent.