Open Call for North Sea Round Town 2026

The Open Call opens on March 4, 2026. Applications can be submitted until April 1, 2026.

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We are looking for initiators who do things just a little differently. Makers with a strong artistic vision. Acts that surprise, challenge audiences, and make Rotterdam come alive. Are you developing an innovative musical or music-related project that brings something new to the city? Then we would love to get to know your plan. Through the Open Call, you have the chance to collaborate with North Sea Round Town, where we support your project and give it a place within the festival.

Whether you are organising a concert, performance, dance battle, exhibition, workshop, jam session or music film — if it is musically relevant and contributes to the energy of the city, we want to hear from you. Read on to discover how you can submit your idea and become part of North Sea Round Town this summer.

North Sea Round Town – A Summer Full of Music

North Sea Round Town is the fringe festival of NN North Sea Jazz. For three weeks, we energise Rotterdam with live music in unexpected places — from gardens and churches to streets and clubs.

We present new sounds, emerging talent and boundary-crossing collaborations between different scenes, from jazz and hip hop to electronic and experimental music. During these three weeks, we present our own productions, such as those by our Artist in Focus. In addition, we support acts through the Open Call, inviting you to become part of our festival programme and potentially receive financial support.

Through the Open Call, we invite innovators to help build a programme that inspires and connects. This is your chance to be part of a festival that pushes musical boundaries.

Tell me more!

With the Open Call, you submit a concept for an event taking place between June 25 and July 12, 2026. NSRT selects the most innovative concepts from the applications. If selected, your event becomes part of the festival and our festival marketing: it will be included in the festival agenda and promoted through festival communications.

NSRT may provide a financial contribution toward artist fees of up to 50% of the SENA standard rate of €340 excluding VAT per person per performance. If your event requires this contribution, you can indicate this in the application form.

Please note that we cannot provide financial support to all applications. A limited budget is available.

Want to participate?

From March 4, 2026, the application form for North Sea Round Town 2026 will be available online. The form can be completed until April 1, 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

Read on and apply directly via the link below. We look forward to your creative and inspiring ideas.

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Who can apply for North Sea Round Town 2026?

We invite organisations and makers — from artists, independent creators and organisations, venues, cultural hubs and new music initiatives to record stores — to apply for the upcoming edition of our fringe festival. This is an opportunity for artists and venues to connect and collaborate.

Please note that you can only apply once you have confirmed a venue for your performance or project. NSRT does not match artists with venues, so make sure you have secured a suitable location before submitting your proposal.

1. Venue holders with an act

• Are you a venue with a confirmed band, act, new initiative or project you want to present? Then you can apply as a venue holder.
• Applications must include a complete proposal with a clear artistic programme, including a detailed description of the act or band and the involved line-up.
• Proposals must demonstrate that the project is concrete, financially feasible and already in development, with visible progress among all parties involved.
• Conceptual ideas without demonstrable progress will only be considered if accompanied by a sufficiently developed and realistic plan.
• Please note: full responsibility for the development, production and presentation of the project lies with the applicant submitting the proposal.

2.Artists

• Artists can apply when they have confirmed a venue for their performance during the festival. We also expect you to be an active project with recent live experience and demonstrable continuity.
• You must have released at least one EP or single between 2024 and 2025, or have a release planned before or no later than July 2026.
• You may also submit new work to premiere during NSRT, provided the project has continuity beyond the festival.
• Artists who have received multiple invitations to perform during NSRT — either directly from the festival or through initiatives and organisations in the city — are required to mention this in their application. Include the name of the inviting organisation, date, venue, project name or line-up, and other relevant details.
• This information does not directly affect selection but is essential for creating a clear overview of artists and performances across the city. We thank you in advance for your transparency.

3. Makers and Project Coordinators

• Makers can apply as project coordinators, provided they collaborate with a venue. This means submitting a complete proposal, including artistic programme, confirmed venue, production approach and marketing strategy.
• Proposals must demonstrate that the project is concrete, feasible and already in development, with visible progress from all involved parties and — most importantly — a confirmed venue.
• A full production plan is not required, but the project must clearly be executable. If you are developing a new project in an empty location, full production responsibility lies with you as the applicant. NSRT does not produce projects; development, production and presentation are entirely your responsibility.
• We also expect ownership in terms of marketing. A clear strategy and complete press kit are required. You are responsible for actively communicating and including NSRT in this process. NSRT does not develop full content or marketing strategies for individual projects.

4. Venue holders without an act

• Are you a venue without a confirmed act or project but interested in participating in North Sea Round Town? We encourage you to first independently develop and confirm an artistic programme.
• If this is not possible, please contact us directly via aanmelden@northsearoundtown.nl. In exceptional cases, NSRT may think along regarding venue participation, but this is not a standard part of the Open Call.

5. New initiatives

• We strongly encourage new initiatives to apply, provided they meet one of the categories above.
• Please note: a confirmed venue and a well-developed project plan are important factors in the selection process.
• We aim to stimulate cultural entrepreneurship and strong artistic ownership and support projects that show potential and continuity beyond the festival. Innovative projects and fresh approaches that strengthen Rotterdam’s music landscape are highly welcome.

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Fees and Fair Pay for Musicians

• Participation in North Sea Round Town means your programme will be included in our festival programme and citywide promotion campaign.
• Even if you do not receive financial support from us, you must ensure that musicians are paid according to the SENA standard. This is an important condition required by government bodies and funding partners.
• For 2026, the standard rate is €340 per performance per person excluding VAT for professional musicians. Students receive half of the SENA standard.
• For other activities such as context programmes, jam sessions, open stages or presentations within workshops, masterclasses or educational trajectories, an appropriate fee will be determined per situation. The initial proposal for this compensation must be made by the applicant.
• This does not mean that NSRT determines how many people should be paid within a project. Responsibility for proposing appropriate fees lies with the applicant, including for semi-professionals and amateurs.
• Important: NSRT can contribute up to 50% of the artist fee towards Fair Pay (50% of €340 excluding VAT). This contribution can only be confirmed when the application is complete and demonstrates clear financial feasibility.
• North Sea Round Town is a festival, not a funding body. Ensure your finances are properly organised and only request a contribution if you would otherwise be unable to pay musicians according to the SENA standard.

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Key evaluation criteria for your proposal

1. Visie en Uitwerking
   We verwachten een heldere visie voor je project, inclusief een goed uitgewerkt programma, een bevestigde locatie, aantoonbare productie-technische haalbaarheid en een duidelijke marketingstrategie inclusief press kit.
2. Vision and Execution
   A clear artistic vision, well-developed programme, confirmed venue, demonstrable technical feasibility and clear marketing strategy including press kit.
3. Diversity and Inclusion
   The project should contribute to Rotterdam’s musical and cultural dynamics. We value diverse and inclusive programming representing different generations, cultural backgrounds and genders.
4. Innovation and Surprising Ideas
   We encourage new artistic work and original repertoire. We are looking for innovative events that reflect the current moment and surprise audiences.
5. Accessibility
   NSRT aims to be accessible to everyone. This includes pricing, context, venue choice, language and audience approach. We strive for free or low-entry events to reach the widest audience possible.
6. New Initiatives and Renewal
   We support new initiatives, makers, projects and emerging talent, prioritising innovation within Rotterdam’s music landscape.
7. Development of Emerging Talent
   We prioritise acts that support and develop young and emerging artists.
8. Connection Between New and Established Artists
   We encourage collaborations between Rotterdam-based and international artists and between emerging and established artists.
9. Exclusivity and Unique Experiences
   Selected artists and projects agree not to present public concerts in the Rotterdam region from three months before until one month after North Sea Round Town 2026. Public try-outs or rehearsals for new repertoire may be considered, provided prior written approval from NSRT has been obtained.
10. Sustainability and Feasibility
    Events must balance artistic ambition with practical feasibility.
11. Small Ensembles and Flexibility
    We prefer smaller line-ups that match available budgets and expected audience reach.

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North Sea Round Town is a festival of makers, places and encounters. We are curious about your idea — big or small — that will make the city resonate this summer. Pitch your idea and become part of North Sea Round Town 2026! Applications are open until April 1, 2026.

Start your application via this link. (Please note: the application link will be available from March 4, 2026 onwards)