Calling all concert presenters: Mississauga’s Live Music Grant opens on March 2

It’s official: “Music City” Mississauga’s Live Music Grant is here to stay! On February 4, 2026, City of Mississauga staff presented the results of the popular grant over its three-year pilot with recommendations to enhance its impact moving forward. In recognition of its resounding success, Mississauga City Council accepted the recommendations and voted to make the grant a permanent addition to the City’s funding initiatives.

The Live Music Grant pilot program has helped grow Mississauga’s music sector by creating more spaces and opportunities for live music events, supporting paid gigs for musicians and taking advantage of the economic impact of Ontario’s growing live music industry. Grants will be increased starting in 2026, providing up to $5,000 to better support economic opportunities for musicians and venue operators.

Eligible applicants can receive funds to help offset the costs of hosting concerts and live music events taking place in Mississauga. It is open to for-profit applicants, including artists, venue operators, promoters, bars, restaurants and other potential music event hosts. While applicants do not need to be based in Mississauga to apply, the events must take place within the city.

Application process

Applications open on March 2, 2026 and must be submitted through the City’s grants portal. For more details on eligibility and the application process, please review the program guidelines.

The deadline to apply is Friday, March 27, 2026.

Webinars

Two webinars are available to help new and returning applicants understand the process and what’s new for the 2026 program. Attendance is optional:

• Register for Information Session #1: Thursday, March 12, from 12 to 1 p.m.
• Register for Information Session #2: Monday, March 23, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Impact of the Live Music Grant 2023-2025 pilot

• During the first three years, the pilot issued 61 grants of up to $2,500, supported 165 new concerts and created 385 gig opportunities for musicians, representing a total economic impact of $278,486 for Mississauga’s music sector.
• There is a strong and growing demand for the grant, which received more than 100 applications and was oversubscribed during each year of the pilot.
• Staff anticipate that by 2027, the Live Music Grant will generate 150 new concerts each year, 300 annual gig opportunities for local musicians and $300,000 in annual economic impact to Mississauga’s music sector. This equates to $3 in local economic impact for every dollar invested through the grant.
• In 2026, the grant will be increased to provide up to $5,000 for applicants, and the overall budget for the program will be increased to $75,000. The Music Office will also be developing a live music venue registry to make it easier for concert presenters to find spaces to host events.

Background

• The Live Music Grant pilot program launched in 2023 as a key action from the Mississauga Music Strategy (2022-2026), designed to help capitalize on the growth of Ontario’s live music industry and create new spaces for live music events. The Live Music Grant also contributes to the Economic Development Strategy: Path to Prosperity 2030 and Future Directions Culture Plan.
• Grant applications were evaluated by a panel of adjudicators, who are music industry professionals based in Mississauga.
• Eligible applicants are concert presenters operating on a for-profit basis, which can include music venues, promoters and musicians who produce their own events. During the three-year pilot, the grant provided up to $2,500 towards eligible expenses, including musician fees, venue fees, marketing and AV staffing and rentals.
• The grant is made possible by the City’s portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax.
• Mississauga’s live music sector continues to grow and, in 2023, added an estimated $28 million to the city’s gross domestic product, supported an estimated 290 full-time equivalent jobs and generated $14.7 million in labour-based income.
• Mississauga was named the “2023 Music City of the Year” by the Canadian Live Music Association and Canadian Music Week in recognition of the City’s efforts to build a stronger and more resilient music ecosystem.

Quotes

“The live music industry is growing strong across the province and especially here in Mississauga. We earned the title of ‘Music City’ because we are serious about creating the spaces and opportunities that our live music industry needs to succeed. I am thrilled by the success of the Live Music Grant pilot, and that’s why we are making it permanent to continue building Mississauga as a premiere destination for live music. – Mayor Carolyn Parrish

“The Live Music Grant pilot has been a resounding success over its first three years, supporting 165 new concerts, creating hundreds of paid gigs and making a significant economic impact in our live music sector. The program is oversubscribed each year as demand continues to grow substantially for new live music event spaces. By making this a permanent funding stream, we are well-positioned to continue building Mississauga’s reputation as a ‘Music City’.”
– Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner, Planning and Building

Tags

• Arts and Culture
• Economic Development
• Funding and Grants