Tour Support Grants
Sonic Guild Seattle is proud to offer the 2026 Tour Support Grants, a program designed to help Washington musicians continue touring and growing their audiences beyond the Pacific Northwest. Touring remains one of the most essential ways artists build career momentum, yet rising travel and lodging costs make it increasingly difficult to say yes to important opportunities. These grants provide direct financial support to help ensure that Seattle musicians can stay on the road at key moments in their careers.
In 2025, Sonic Guild Seattle supported 25 Washington artists as they performed more than 225 tour dates across North America, Europe, and Japan.
The 2026 Tour Support Grants are underwritten by Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation, The Head & The Heart’s Rivers & Roads Foundation, The Redfellow Foundation, and Distrokid. Their support helps ensure Washington musicians can continue reaching new audiences across the country and beyond.
Grant Details
Artists may receive 150 dollars per eligible tour date, up to 1,500 dollars total for the year. Funds may be used for travel, lodging, meals, backline rental, tour vehicle needs, and tour merchandise production.
The Tour Support application form is open year round. Artists may apply as soon as their tour is confirmed. Applications are reviewed three times per year in alignment with the cycle schedule below. If you submit early, your application will be automatically placed into the correct cycle based on your tour dates.
Eligibility
The program is open to Washington based musicians who are pursuing full time music careers. Most of the touring party must live within 90 miles of Seattle. Applicants must be 21 or older.
Eligible tours must include:
• At least three consecutive shows outside of the artist’s home market
• A minimum travel distance of 250 miles
• Tour dates that fall fully within one of the cycle windows below
Applications are evaluated by a Seattle based industry panel using three primary criteria: artistic merit, tour integrity, and projected career impact.
2026 Application Cycles
Cycle 1
Tours eligible: February through May 2026
• Applications open: December 15, 2025
• Applications close: January 16, 2026
• Notifications sent: January 27, 2026
Cycle 2
Tours eligible: June through August 2026
• Applications open: March 16, 2026
• Applications close: April 10, 2026
• Notifications sent: April 24, 2026
Cycle 3
Tours eligible: September through December 2026
• Applications open: July 15, 2026
• Applications close: August 15, 2026
• Notifications sent: September 2, 2026
Apply
Artists can apply at SonicGuild.org/TourSupport. The application form, full eligibility guidelines, and FAQs are available online. For questions, contact k.vanpetten@sonicguild.org.
Support the Future of Music
Sonic Guild Seattle builds a community that supports the future of local music. Memberships are available at SonicGuild.org/membership, where contributions directly fund grants, performances, and year round artist development.
About Sonic Guild
Founded in 2013, Sonic Guild is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to supporting the creation and performance of new music by exceptional musicians. The organization has awarded more than 5.6 million dollars nationwide since its inception and continues to play a central role in sustaining vibrant music ecosystems in Seattle, Austin, and beyond.
