Music Fund Allocations: Second Round 2026

The allocation committees of the Music Fund have concluded their work for the second round of grants for 2026.

A total of 431 applications were received, with funding requests totaling ISK 704,434,577. The total amount available for distribution was ISK 57,888,470, which has been awarded to 47 projects across the fund’s four departments.

Creation and Publication Division – Music Grants

A total of 234 applications applied for ISK 324,782,323. Funding of ISK 20,850,000 was awarded to 22 projects. The highest individual project grant of ISK 2,000,000 was awarded to musician Bjarni Daníel Þorvaldsson. Artists Ellen Kristjánsdóttir and Þórður Magnússon each received ISK 1,800,000.

The application success rate stands at 9%. The allocated funds are distributed as follows:

• 23% to classical and contemporary music
• 45% to pop, rock, and indie
• 13% to electronic music
• 19% to other musical genres

Live Performance Division – Performance Grants

A total of 98 applications requested ISK 119,145,139. Funding of ISK 12,452,500 was allocated to 10 projects. The opera company HinÓperan received the highest project grant, totaling nearly ISK 2.7 million. Moses Hightower received nearly ISK 2.2 million for a domestic tour, and the chamber music ensemble Meltríó was awarded over ISK 1.8 million for concerts to be held across the country.

The application success rate stands at 10%. The allocated funds are distributed as follows:

• 68% to classical and contemporary music
• 17% to pop, rock, and indie
• 15% to other musical genres

Note: This distribution aligns closely with the original ratio of genres among the applicants.

No new long-term contracts were awarded in this round, but the following ongoing long-term contracts remain active for 2026:

• Caput – ISK 6,000,000 per year (2024–2026)
• Kammersveit Reykjavíkur – ISK 5,000,000 per year (2024–2026)
• Elja Kammersveit – ISK 3,500,000 per year (2026–2027)
• Barrokbandið Brák – ISK 2,500,000 per year (2026–2027)
• Kammerkórinn Cantoque – ISK 3,000,000 per year (2025–2027)

Development and Infrastructure Division – Business Grants

A total of 79 applications requested ISK 227,792,743. Funding of ISK 18,220,000 was allocated across 9 projects. The highest project grants of ISK 3,000,000 each went to Dark Music Days (Myrkir músíkdagar) and the VAKA Folk Arts Festival (VAKA Þjóðlistahátíð). The Sátan Music Festival (Sátan) received a grant of ISK 2,500,000.

The overall application success rate stands at 11%. The allocated funds are distributed as follows:

• 40% to cross-genre projects
• 29% to classical and contemporary music
• 16% to jazz and blues
• 15% to other musical genres

No new long-term contracts were awarded in this round, but the following ongoing long-term contracts remain active for 2026:

• Óperudagar – ISK 4,000,000 (2024–2026)
• Sönghátíð í Hafnarborg – ISK 2,000,000 (2024–2026)
• Reykholtshátíð – ISK 1,000,000 (2024–2026)
• Bræðslan – ISK 1,500,000 (2024–2026)
• Iceland Airwaves – ISK 6,000,000 (2024–2026)
• Aldrei fór ég suður – ISK 3,000,000 (2026–2027)
• Jazzhátíð í Reykjavík – ISK 4,000,000 (2026–2028)
• Seigla – ISK 2,000,000 (2026–2027)

Export Division – Marketing Grants

A total of 22 applications requested ISK 32,714,372. Funding of ISK 6,365,970 was allocated to 6 projects. The highest grant went to Bedroom Community, totaling ISK 2,000,000.

The application success rate stands at 27%. The allocated funds are distributed as follows:

• 47% to classical and contemporary music
• 31% to pop, rock, and indie
• 22% to other musical genres

Breakdown by Gender, Region, and Applicant Type

The majority of applications came from projects led by men, accounting for 57%, while 43% came from women. The success rate for applications was equal, standing at 9% for both men and women.

The majority of the Music Fund grants in this round were awarded to individuals, at 54%. Companies received 23%, and the remaining funds went to associations, institutions, and other applicant categories.

The overall success rate for all applications was 11%. Regionally, 76% of the allocated funds went to projects within the capital region, 15% to projects in other parts of Iceland, and 9% to projects taking place abroad.

Allocation Committees

The committees were composed of the following members. Two members are appointed by professional music associations, and one is appointed by the Minister, who also serves as chairperson:

• Music Grants – Department of Creation and Release:Sindri Ástmarsson (Chair), Hafdís Bjarnadóttir, Kristjana Stefánsdóttir
• Performer Grants – Department of Live Performance:Inga Magnes Weisshappel (Chair), Þorbjörg Daphne Hall, Kristján Kristjánsson
• Business Grants – Department of Infrastructure and Development:Tómas Young (Chair), Brynja Guðmundsdóttir, Melkorka Sigríður Magnúsdóttir
• Marketing Grants – Department of Export:Snæbjörn Ragnarsson (Chair), Anna Jóna Dungal, Melkorka Ólafsdóttir

Full List of Grant Allocations

Music Grants

• Bjarni Daníel Þorvaldsson – Bjarni Daníel, fyrstu sólóplötur: DÍSEL 1 & DÍSEL 2 – ISK 2,000,000
• Þórður Magnússon – Upptaka á Konsert fyrir fiðlu og hljómsveit – ISK 1,800,000
• Ellen Rósalind Kristjánsdóttir – Ellen Kristjánsdóttir og Dominic Miller – ISK 1,800,000
• Blómi sf – Tónsmíðar og útsetningar ásamt upptöku og útgáfu á tíundu hljómplötu ADHD – ISK 1,500,000
• Sigurður Björn Blöndal – HAMPARAT - tónleikaplata – ISK 1,000,000
• RVK Record Shop ehf. – lúpína - Light in the Dark (ep) – ISK 1,000,000
• Jón Arnar Einarsson – Ákall! – ISK 1,000,000
• Stjörnusambandsstöðin ehf. – Jól á Diskóeyju - Memfismafían – ISK 1,000,000
• Guðjón Daði Grétuson Lulof – BESTI RAPPARI ÍSLANDS – ISK 1,000,000
• Plastkastalinn ehf. – K.óla - hljómplata í fullri lengd – ISK 1,000,000
• Birkir Kárason – Static Spiral Swells – ISK 800,000
• Björk Níelsdóttir – Ferðaflóra – ISK 800,000
• Sigmar Þór Matthíasson – Heimstónlistarjazz þríleikur – ISK 800,000
• María Magnúsdóttir – Upptökur á barnaplötunni Allt í góðu lagi – ISK 750,000
• Elísabet Eyþórsdóttir – STILL – ISK 700,000
• Eygló Höskuldsdóttir Viborg – CYCLE – ISK 600,000
• Sólrún Mjöll Kjartansdóttir – Attached/detached EP – ISK 600,000
• Rubin Pollock – Trés Locos – ISK 600,000
• Jón Knútur Ásmundsson – Upptökur á nýrri plötu Coney Island Babies – ISK 600,000
• Sigurður Hjörtur Flosason – Sigurður Flosason, Daniel Nolgård og Stórsveit Reykjavíkur – ISK 500,000
• Birgir Hilmarsson – Reflections: Vol. I Piano – ISK 500,000
• RVH slf. – Tuttugu og eitthvað lög - stúdíó útgáfur – ISK 500,000

Performer Grants

• Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir – 27 – ISK 2,671,100
• Mahoney ehf. – Moses er víða – ISK 2,150,000
• Chrissie Telma Guðmundsdóttir – Meltríó – ISK 1,826,900
• Mt. Eliassen slf. – Handan tímans: Spuni í návist Einars Jónssonar – ISK 1,340,000
• Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson – SYRINX – ISK 1,070,000
• Anna Elísabet Sigurðardóttir – Ævintýrið um Dimmalimm, barnatónleikar fyrir píanókvartett og söngkonu – ISK 976,300
• Högni Egilsson – ANOK – ISK 890,000
• Stefan Sand – NAVARANAAQ – ISK 574,200
• Gunnar Kristinn Óskarsson – Endurómur Norðursins – ISK 504,000
• Hildigunnur Einarsdóttir – Portrait - Kurt Weill – ISK 450,000

Marketing Grants

• Valgeir Sigurðsson ehf – Bedroom Community 20 ára – ISK 2,000,000
• Axel Flóvent Daðason – Fleeing The Shore EP and Tour - Digital and Touring Marketing – ISK 1,000,000
• Geirþrúður Anna Guðmundsdóttir – When the Iceheart Beats - plötuútgáfa – ISK 1,000,000
• Iceland Sync Management ehf. – Bríet í Bandaríkjunum – ISK 1,000,000
• Salka Valsdóttir – Markaðsherferð fyrstu tveggja singúla SCAM – ISK 801,000
• Jose Luis A Anderson Esquivel – Ironclad and Palm trees - Mexico PR campaign – ISK 564,970

Development and Infrastructure

• Tónskáldafélag Íslands – Myrkir músíkdagar – ISK 3,000,000
• Vökufélagið - Félag Þjóðlistafólks – VAKA þjóðlistahátíð – ISK 3,000,000
• Glapræði ehf. – Tónlistarhátíðin Sátan – ISK 2,500,000
• State of the Art slf. – State of the Art 2026 – ISK 2,300,000
• INNI Music ehf. – LEIÐIR Composer & Producer Programme – ISK 2,000,000
• Bad taste Reykjavík ehf. – Smekkleysa 40 ára - Afmælishelgi í Austurbæ – ISK 1,840,000
• MBS Skífur ehf. – Mannfólkið breytist í slím 2026 – ISK 1,500,000
• Félag íslenskra kvenna í tónlist (FÍKT) – Kítónleikar í Iðnó – ISK 1,080,000
• Tónræktin ehf. – SuðurlandsDjazz – ISK 1,000,000

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