First Bandcamp Friday of 2026 Raises $3.6M for Indie Artists

Photo Credit: Bandcamp

Bandcamp Fridays have raised over $150 million for independent artists since 2020, with the first edition of 2026 alone raising $3.6 million.

On Friday, February 6, the first Bandcamp Friday of 2026 kicked off, raising a whopping $3.6 million in direct support for independent artists and labels in just 24 hours. This year’s first edition of Bandcamp Fridays kept the momentum going from last year’s $19 million total Bandcamp Friday payout. In December, Bandcamp Friday generated over $3.8 million.

Since launching during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in response to widespread touring losses, Bandcamp Fridays have grown into a fan-powered movement that continuously puts artists first. On Bandcamp Fridays, Bandcamp waives its revenue share so that artists and labels receive more of the money from every fan purchase. The movement has raised over $150 million for independent artists since kicking off in 2020.

Even when it isn’t Bandcamp Friday, the majority of revenue on the platform goes directly to artists. That fact has long aided in fostering a communal experience with music discovery where artists and fans support one another. Bandcamp artists and labels release and sell a broad range of music products, including digital and physical records, vinyl, apparel, and other merchandise. It’s also an indispensable source of gaming soundtracks for game fans who want to listen to music outside of the game.

Furthering their commitment to artists, earlier this year, Bandcamp became the first music streaming service to introduce a platform-wide policy that bans music or audio created entirely or substantially by AI from being hosted on the platform. The move affirms that only human-created work is permitted on the largest online music marketplace worldwide, so listeners can be confident in the authenticity of what they discover.

To that end, February’s Bandcamp Friday, together with the rollout of the new no-AI policy, reinforces Bandcamp’s long-standing commitment to artist-first economics and authentic creative work. The next Bandcamp Friday takes place on March 6.