Music Australia’s Export Development Fund opens its third round for 2026 in late August, with applications closing on Tuesday 13 October.
It is matched funding, so every dollar from Music Australia has to be matched at least 50:50. In kind contributions do not count, and neither do other federal, state or local government grants. Evidence of the match has to be attached in your support material, and applications without it can be ruled ineligible before anyone reads the rest.
There are three categories and you can put in one application per category per round. International Performance and Touring Activity runs from $5,000 to $75,000 and covers headline and support tours, festival appearances, commissioned performances and official showcases. International Professional and Artistic Development runs from $3,000 to $15,000. International Market and Audience Development runs from $2,000 to $10,000.
Activity in this round has to start between 1 January and 31 March 2027 and be finished within twelve months of the start date. Eligible costs cover artist and creative worker fees, flights, accommodation, per diems, ground transport, travel insurance, visas, freight and baggage, childcare and carer costs, access costs, and management costs of up to 10 per cent of the budget request.
Two things worth knowing for members. Organisations and music businesses can apply on behalf of their artists, but because the one application per category limit sits with the account, labels and managers with several acts are better off having each artist register their own. And bookers wanting to get to an international conference themselves are covered by a separate program, the Music Australia International Conference Contribution, which ALMBC delivers with Sounds Australia.
