Valencia Music City has launched its new call for aid for music projects in 2026, with a total budget of 200,000 euros, an increase of 50,000 euros compared to the previous edition. The call, managed by the Valencia Innovation Capital Foundation, is part of the Valencia Music City 2025-2030 strategy and aims to "continue strengthening the city's music ecosystem," as reported by the City Council in a statement.
Regarding this, the General Director Commissioner for Valencia Music City, Juan Pablo Valero, highlighted that "the new edition introduces technical improvements aimed at facilitating the planning and execution of projects." Among these improvements is its multi-year nature, as subsidized activities can take place between June 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027. This setup allows the call to adapt to the real timelines of production, programming, and development of musical events, offering more flexibility to artists, promoters, cultural entities, and sector agents.
The call also incorporates improvements in the justification process, with a simplified justification account, a 30-day natural period for justification after project completion, and the possibility of extensions in duly justified cases. Furthermore, justifiable expenses are expanded to include costs related to the hiring of artists, speakers, technical staff, production, venue rental, communication, technology, training, sustainability, travel, and other services necessary for project development.
Aid will be granted through a competitive bidding process and can range from 2,500 to 15,000 euros, depending on the score obtained. The subsidy may cover up to a maximum of 70% of the total project cost. Scoring criteria will evaluate aspects such as the project's artistic quality and interest, its alignment with Valencia Music City, sociocultural impact, capacity to reach diverse audiences, decentralization in neighborhoods and districts, the initiative's track record, accessibility, inclusion, and collaboration with other public and private entities.
“"With this call, Valencia Music City reinforces a form of support based on opening opportunities to the city's music scene."
Juan Pablo Valero explained that "instead of concentrating programming solely on direct contracts, subsidies allow for giving a voice to initiatives driven by artists, promoters, cultural entities, and independent projects." "In this way," he reiterated, "this model contributes to revitalizing the music sector, broadening the diversity of proposals, fostering collaboration, and generating programming more connected to Valencia's creative reality."
Valero García recalled that the call aligns with the five strategic lines of Valencia Music City: promotion of live music, professionalization of the music sector, music education and practice for citizens, music tourism, and governance. "With this second edition, Valencia continues to consolidate a strategy that understands music as a cultural, social, economic, and urban driver, reinforcing the city's role as an innovative, sustainable, and connected music ecosystem," he concluded.
