City of Austin Announces 2026 Cultural Funding Awards

Investing More Than $24 Million in Local Artists, Musicians, Cultural Spaces, and Heritage Projects

More than $24 million will be awarded today to members of Austin's creative community through the City of Austin's Cultural Funding Awards - an investment that underscores the City's commitment to art, culture and Austin's legacy of being a birthplace of and breeding ground for creativity and inspiration.

This marks the City's largest cultural investment since forming a new department, Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment, and the first full funding cycle shaped by the ACME's Creative Reset initiative.

Austin's cultural funding programs are primarily supported through Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue, which is authorized by state law to support tourism-related activities including the arts, cultural heritage, and music.

These investments help sustain Austin's cultural identity while also supporting the visitor economy that drives tourism and local economic activity. Through these programs, the City invests in the artists, musicians, cultural organizations, and heritage institutions that contribute to Austin's global reputation as a creative capital.

More than 731 Austin creatives, organizations, musicians, venues, and cultural producers will receive awards this year across ACME's four major programs: Elevate, Austin Live Music Fund, Creative Space Assistance Program, and the Heritage Preservation Grant.

This cycle drew 1,606 full applicants requesting over $67 million, underscoring the extraordinary demand for cultural support across the city.

"Austin's creative community is the heartbeat of our city," said Angela Means, Director of ACME. "These 2026 awards celebrate the cultural producers who make Austin vibrant, original, and unmistakably Austin. This is more than grantmaking - it's an investment in our artists, our venues, our heritage, and our future. We're proud to support the people and places who keep our creative ecosystem alive, and we're equally committed to making this process more transparent, accessible, and supportive year-round."

Funding in 2026 spans every corner of Austin's creative landscape. The Creative Space Assistance Program will support 22 creative spaces with $60,000 each, strengthening Austin's cultural infrastructure. The Heritage Preservation Grant will invest $3 million in 22 projects, including cultural heritage events and capital improvements that preserve Austin's diverse stories and historic assets.

The Austin Live Music Fund will distribute $7 million to 399 grantees, including venues, professional musicians, and independent promoters, reinforcing Austin's reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. The Elevate program, the largest funding category, will support 289 organizations and projects with grants ranging from $4,000 to $80,000, totaling $12.86 million to expand public cultural programming, community arts experiences, and creative collaborations across all districts.

"Austin's artists, musicians, and cultural organizations are at the heart of what makes our city unique. These investments help ensure that the creativity and cultural expression that define Austin continue to thrive," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. "At a time when the world is watching Austin during SXSW, we are proud to demonstrate our commitment to supporting the people and organizations that power our creative economy."

These awards reflect years of reform through the Creative Reset Phase I, a community-driven overhaul of the City's cultural funding system. More than 1,500 residents participated through surveys, focus groups, and listening sessions, helping shape clearer, more equitable funding guidelines now in effect.

Awardees will begin the post-award contracting process this month, with funds expected to be distributed beginning April 2026 after contract execution. Applicants not selected this cycle are encouraged to use ACME's expanded wraparound services, including grant writing workshops, professional development offerings, open office hours, and opportunities to reapply.

The next grant opportunity-the Nexus Grant-is now open with $5,000 and $10,000 grants for individual artists and small arts groups. Applications close April 16, 2026.

A full list of FY26 awardees, along with district-level investment maps and additional transparency tools, will be available on the ACME website.

About Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment

Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) is committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive creative ecosystem that celebrates and supports Austin's artists, musicians, entertainment venues, and cultural institutions. ACME is a centralized hub offering resources, funding opportunities, and strategic programs that promote local talent and drive economic growth.

Learn more at https://www.austintexas.gov/acme and subscribe to our newsletter.

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