The first Bandcamp Friday of 2026 kicks off with $3.6 million raised for independent artists on February 6.

Since launching in 2020 during the height of the pandemic when touring income disappeared overnight, Bandcamp Friday has become one of the most impactful direct-to-fan initiatives in the music industry. To date, the campaign has generated more than $150 million for artists and labels.

Now, the first Bandcamp Friday of 2026 has brought in an impressive $3.6 million for independent artists. It’s certainly not a bad way to start the year.

Why Bandamp Fridays are crucial for artists

Artists can sell their music on Bandcamp whenever, but usually the platform takes a small share of revenue from sales on the platform. Even then, artists still keep the majority of revenue from their sales (82%). 

On Bandcamp Fridays, the platform waives its revenue share. That means artists keep all of the revenue earned during that 24-hour window.

For independent artists and labels, these days are a crucial and much-welcomed income boost. They’ve become chances to drop new releases, sell exclusive merch, or launch special editions.

Last year alone, Bandcamp Fridays generated a record $19 million for independent artists- the highest annual total since the initiative began. It’s a figure that signals fans are willing to directly support artists when they know their money is going straight to them. 

Bandcamp’s ongoing commitment to artists

In an era dominated by streaming platforms and their payouts, Bandcamp continues to deliver a way to support artists directly. Its platform prioritizes direct fan relationships, and champions real artists. 

Earlier this year, Bandcamp reinforced that stance by becoming the first music platform to ban music that is entirely or substantially generated by AI. At a time when AI-generated tracks are flooding platforms everywhere, Bandcamp’s move strengthened its position as an artist-first platform. 

Bandcamp puts human artists first as it clamps down on AI music

What’s next?

There are seven more Bandcamp Fridays confirmed for 2026, giving artists multiple opportunities throughout the year to benefit. 

So if you’re an independent artist or label, consider using Bandcamp Fridays as part of your release strategy. You can check out all the confirmed dates here.

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