Grants in September 2026: What’s new?

EIT Culture & Creativity fördert Start-ups und Scale-ups aus der Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft, die technologiegestützte, marktorientierte Lösungen entwickeln und weiter wachsen, Investitionen einwerben und international skalieren möchten. Für den Jahrgang 2027 liegt der Schwerpunkt auf den Bereichen Mode, Architektur und audiovisuelle Medien. Gefördert werden unter anderem Business Development, Investor*innenansprache, Teamausbau, Marketing sowie Rechts- und IP-Beratung. Je nach Entwicklungsstand können Unternehmen im Shape Acceleration Programme zunächst bis zu 100.000 € erhalten; im Scale Post-Acceleration Programme sind bis zu 200.000 € möglich. Insgesamt stehen 8,6 Mio. € für 50 Ventures zur Verfügung. Die Bewerbungsfrist endet am 12. Oktober 2026. Mehr erfahren

The Authority for Culture and Media supports artists, collectives and associations living in Hamburg working in the field of interculturalism, whose artistic perspectives have so far been under-represented in the cultural sector. Funding is available for projects across all art forms that raise the profile of these perspectives and facilitate their development. The aim of the funding is to make art with a focus on intercultural dialogue visible and accessible. To this end, artists with and without a migrant background are supported, for example, in implementing projects, developing their skills, creating spaces for intercultural encounters and building networks. The application period runs from 1 October to 15 November. Find out more

Exceptionally talented artists working in the fields of architecture, the visual arts, literature and music may be awarded grants to undertake study visits to the Villa Massimo in Rome, the Casa Baldi in Olevano Romana and the German Study Centre in Venice. For artists whose artistic development is still evolving, there is also the opportunity to apply for a scholarship place at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris in the ‘Bundesateliers’. As a general rule, applicants should already have gained national – and, where possible, international – recognition. The application period runs from 1 October to 15 December for a study visit in the following year. Find out more

Workspace funding from nextMedia.Hamburg is aimed at start-ups and media makers and enables the free use of workspaces and meeting and workshop rooms at SPACE in the Speicherstadt historical warehouse district. The funding covers a period of six months. Applications can be submitted at any time. Learn more

Hamburg Pride e.V. offers project funding. Anyone with project ideas that pursue the same goals as Hamburg Pride e.V. can apply. This includes, for example, the reduction of existing prejudices against the queer community or the (solidarity) support of victims of anti-homosexual violence. Applications can be submitted at any time. Application deadline: ongoing. Find out more

The German Federal Cultural Foundation's "Zero Fund", which is open to applications, is aimed at organisations and actors who are already familiar with the practice of ecological sustainability and at the same time are willing to work with commitment and curiosity on climate-friendly alternatives to cultural production. The fund is intended to support cultural institutions in testing climate-neutral forms of production and new aesthetics with the least possible impact on the climate. The aim is to make a model contribution to a reorientation of the German cultural landscape in order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the long term. Funding of up to 140,000 euros per project is available. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis until 2027. Find out more

The Rusch Foundation supports individual projects with an amount of up to 7,500 euros. The projects must take place in Hamburg. The founders explicitly mention the areas of music and theatre as well as the promotion of young artists. Higher funding may be approved in individual cases. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing and informal basis. Learn more

The Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation supports artistic projects of all categories and genres by people whose primary residence is registered in Hamburg. Projects eligible for funding include, for example, exhibitions, theatre events, concerts, festivals, and music, video and film productions. The foundation awards project grants of up to 6,000 euros. Applicants must provide a brief description of the project, a short artistic CV for each person involved and a budget/funding plan. Applications can be submitted at any time. Find out more

Once a year, the Authority for Culture and Media awards grants for annual programmes run by self-managed, non-commercial exhibition spaces and artistic initiatives in Hamburg. To be eligible, these must have been in existence for at least one year and must have organised and be able to provide evidence of an annual programme during this period. Funding is available for exhibitions and other formats for presenting visual art, as well as events that relate, in a narrow or broader sense, to the artistic programme and/or to current discourses in the field of visual art. Experimental and approaches to programme design are expressly encouraged. The application period runs from 15 September to 15 October 2026. Find out more

The Uwe Lüders Trust Foundation of the Sparkassenstiftung Lüneburg supports visual artists, regardless of their financial and social situation and age, who are not yet established on the art market and are not yet successfully represented by other galleries or institutions. The scholarship holders receive a monthly grant for a period of three months. In addition, the scholarship grants a free stay in a studio flat in the city centre of Lüneburg. Attendance of at least six weeks is a prerequisite for participation. At the end of the scholarship, there is the opportunity to realise an exhibition in Lüneburg in cooperation with the Sparkassenstiftung Lüneburg. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Three to four scholarships are awarded each year. Find out more

The Ministry of Culture and Media supports the expansion of studios for professional visual artists who live and work in Hamburg. Only recognised professional artists are eligible for funding. A rental agreement for at least five years future rental security must be provided for the studio to be extended. In the case of special structural measures, a declaration of consent from the tenant is required. The application must be submitted at least three months before the start of the construction work. Find out more

The aim of the dance touring grant scheme run by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK (NPN) is to promote and strengthen the dance scene nationwide by providing financial support for cross-regional exchanges between organisers and theatre companies. Eligible applicants include independent theatres, private, municipal and state theatres, festivals, other cultural institutions and dance companies. Applications for the allocation of remaining funds for 2026 can be submitted until 30 October 2026. Find out more

The Authority for Culture and Media supports professional independent theatre producers and groups in Hamburg, with the aim of enabling them to develop their productions, realise multi-year projects, and undertake initiatives to strengthen their organisational structures or provide artistic training. For the 2026/27 season, a total of 59 projects will receive over 2.4 million euros in funding from the Ministry of Culture and Media. Funding is available for independent productions in the following genres: spoken theatre, musical theatre and performance, dance, and theatre for young audiences. The deadline for applications is 16 November 2026. Find out more

On behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Media, the DfdK awards diffusion funding, a revival and guest performance grant aimed at all independent performing artists in Hamburg who would like to show existing productions again in Hamburg or elsewhere.the declared aim is to increase the visibility of existing productions and enable better evaluation of individual projects. The keyword is sustainability.the application deadline is 1 March 2026. find out more

The Moin Film Fund supports the production of short films through grants, which should not exceed 50 per cent of the estimated total costs. Short film projects in the genres of fiction, documentary, experimental and animation, with a maximum running time of 30 minutes. The next submission deadline is 27 October 2026. Important: A consultation appointment is required before submission. This must be arranged no later than 14 days before the submission deadline. Find out more

The Moin Film Fund supports the production of innovative moving-image formats in the form of performance-based repayable loans. Funding shall not exceed 50,000 euros and may cover up to 50 per cent of the total production costs. In addition, funding is available for the creation of prototypes, with the grant not exceeding 50,000 euros and covering a maximum of 80 per cent of the total costs. The deadline for applications is 27 October 2026. Find out more

The MOIN Film Fund supports larger film and television series productions – including films with production costs exceeding €2.5 million, television series and documentaries with production costs exceeding €1.5 million. The deadline for submissions is 27 October 2026. Find out more

Moin Filmförderung's NEST brings authors, creators and producers together, online and offline. It replaces the previous types of funding for treatments and screenplays as well as in the innovative area for ideas and concepts. Interested parties can apply with their ideas for feature and animated films, cinema documentaries, high-end series and innovative formats such as XR or 360 degrees. In total, you can receive up to 100,000 euros in funding for feature films with the NEST tools. Documentary films and innovative formats can receive up to 50,000 euros in funding, while high-end series can receive up to 150,000 euros. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis. Find out more

Initiative Musik’s artist support programme is aimed at solo artists and bands seeking to establish themselves on the German and international music markets. Potential areas for funding include composition and concept development, production and recording, the production of sound recordings, video and content production, promotion and marketing, and touring. Applications for the 75th funding round can be submitted from 11 September to 2 October 2026. Find out more

RockCity e.V.’s LIVE FONDS provide financial support for live gigs. Through the LIVE FONDS, musicians can receive reimbursement of up to 70 per cent of the costs associated with sustainable touring by train, domestic vehicle hire, or travel and accommodation costs for gigs abroad. Performing musicians, DJs and bands of any nationality who are resident in or have their main place of work in Hamburg are eligible to apply. Through the International Touring Fund, up to 60 per cent of the costs for transfers, visas or accommodation for international concerts can be reimbursed. Applications can be submitted until 15 October 2026. Find out more

By bridging funding gaps, this program enables emerging musical acts from Germany to accept short-notice international performance invitations that offer a strong professional perspective and an exceptional opportunity for market entry and further international positioning. The focus of the program is therefore on participation in international showcase festivals and live performances abroad aimed primarily at professional industry audiences, as well as support tours abroad that contribute to sustainable establishment in a new international target market. The maximum total funding amount is €20,000 per act per year. Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis from March 2, 2026 to November 19, 2026. Learn more.

Up to twice a month, 105 VIERTEL organises concerts together with young talents and up-and-coming bands at venues of their choice. These events offer musicians the opportunity to gain stage experience, expand their reach and attract new audiences. As a sponsor, 105 VIERTEL assumes the role of organiser as well as all costs for the venue, GEMA, Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) and applicable taxes. The programme is aimed at up-and-coming musicians from Hamburg. Applications can be submitted at any time via the 105 VIERTEL contact form. Learn more

The Exlibris Book Festival 2026 is an independent book festival focusing on artists’ books, design and publishing. The third edition will take place on 3 December 2026 in the auditorium of the HFBK Hamburg, with the theme ‘Letter’. Alongside the book fair, the ‘Sharing Shelf’ exhibition is planned. Participants will have the opportunity to present their own publications and are also invited to bring along a book that has shaped their personal journey. The open call thus offers the opportunity to showcase one’s own work, take part in the exhibition and network with people from the publishing and literary sectors. The deadline for applications is 4 October 2026. Find out more

In collaboration with the Hamburg Authority for Culture and Media and the Hamburg Comic Festival, La Marelle and the Goethe-Institut Marseille are organising a residency for comic artists from Hamburg for the second time in 2023. The focus is on the emerging comic scene in both port cities. The artistic project to be realised during the residency should be either in its early stages or currently in progress. Travel and accommodation costs, amounting to 1,500 euros, will be covered. The call for applications opens annually at the beginning of October. The deadline for applications is 31 November 2026. Find out more

The Ministry of Culture and Media promotes literary life in Hamburg and the work of Hamburg authors. The aim of the funding is to enable a diverse and ambitious literary life in our city, which offers Hamburg residents the opportunity to engage with literature and its current debates, creates spaces for discussion and encounters and facilitates working conditions for authors. Applicants can submit their applications throughout the year - up to two months before the start of each project.
Find out more.

Accompanied by music, snacks and drinks, designers and brands from Hamburg have the opportunity to sell their products at the Design Zentrum. Every year, around twenty designers take part with their brands and products, including upcycled items, handmade jewellery, printed goods, accessories, fashion, ceramics and much more. The Pop-up Design Market will take place on Saturday 28 November 2026 from 2 pm to 7 pm at the Design Centre. The stall is free of charge for participating brands. The deadline for applications is 15 October 2026. Find out more

Die munich creative business week (mcbw) ist einer der größten Designevents Deutschlands und ein wichtiger Treffpunkt für die nationale und internationale Kreativ- und Designszene. Designer*innen haben über mehrere Open Calls die Möglichkeit die mcbw 2027 mitzugestalten.

Open Call – Public Space

Raus aus dem Studio, rein in die Stadt. Dieser Open Call lädt alle Designschaffenden ein, den öffentlichen Raum mit kreativen Ideen zu bespielen und neu zu denken. Bewerbungsfrist ist der 5. Oktober 2026. Mehr erfahren

Open Call – Pop-up

Internationale Designstudiengänge und Hochschulen können sich absofort für den mcbw pop-up 2027 zu bewerben. Gesucht wird ein Konzept für eine interaktive Installation, die Teil des internationalen Designfestivals werden soll. Bewerbungsfist ist der 4. November 2026. Mehr erfahren

Open Call – Speakers

Gesucht werden Designer*innen, Kreativschaffende, Unternehmer*innen, Forschende, Studierende und alle, die mit ihrer Arbeit oder ihrem Projekt beitragen wollen. Sie können sich für einen Impulsvortrag beim Design Summit bewerben. Bewerbungsfrist ist der 4. Dezember 2026. Mehr erfahren

Every year, the Hamburg Historical Museums Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry for Urban Development and Housing, awards the ‘Georg Koppmann Prize for Hamburg Urban Photography’. The prize is awarded for an artistic and documentary exploration of Hamburg’s changing cityscape. In keeping with Koppmann’s vision, the work should contribute to the ongoing documentation of these changes. It should develop an independent photographic perspective on the city as a living space in order to engage with its processes of change, whilst a reflection on current discussions regarding Hamburg’s development is desirable. However, the focus of your work should be on the built environment and its aesthetic and spatial qualities. The scholarship is worth 8,000 euros and is open to professional photographers and graduates of photography courses at universities, colleges and academies . The application period runs from 1 October to 30 November 2026. Find out more

We are looking for hand-drawn sketches that form part of an architectural design process – ranging from rough sketches to detailed drawings. The prize is worth a total of 5,000 euros, divided between a first prize and three runners-up prizes. The competition is open to students of architecture, interior design, urban planning and landscape architecture in Germany and abroad. The closing date for entries is 2 October 2026. Find out more