The Victorian Budget for 2026-27 was handed down on Tuesday 5 May. We break down what the Budget means for Victoria’s creative industries below.
The 2026-27 Victorian Budget includes $81.1 million in initiatives to back the creative industries across the state. This includes investment in contemporary music, the screen industry, regional touring and the cultural facilities and infrastructure that give creators space to work and audiences places to connect, experience and participate in our vibrant creative life.
Victorian Budget 2026-27 – Creative Industries initiatives
- $4.5 million in 2026-27 for contemporary music programs and initiatives aimed at nurturing young talent and helping musicians and music businesses develop projects, grow their audiences and expand their reach. This package includes funding for successful programs and initiatives including Music Works, Songwriting in Schools, and the Victorian Music Development Office. Funding will also support the delivery of a Victorian contemporary music strategy, an action of the Creative State 2028 strategy.
- $1.2 million in 2026-27 to support regional touring initiatives, giving Victorians access to a diverse range of creative events and opportunities wherever they live, and providing opportunities for Victorian artists and creative organisations to expand their audiences and showcase their work.
- $7.1 million over four years to increase support for the maintenance and activation of state-owned cultural facilities.
- $12.1 million in 2026-27 for infrastructure upgrades to Hamer Hall to support its continued ability to attract and deliver world-class music events.
- $27.2 million over two years to attract new international screen productions to Victoria, supporting statewide employment across film, television, visual effects,animation and games. This builds on funding provided in the 2025-26 Budget which also supports local projects, industry events and career development initiatives.
- $29 million over two years to support the operations of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project and manage disruption during construction.
These initiatives are in addition to Creative Victoria’s core operational funding and funding already allocated through previous State Budgets. In 2026-27, the total budget allocated to the creative industries portfolio totals more than $650 million.
Find out more about the 2026-27 Budget.