First Bandcamp Friday Of 2026 Raises $3.6 Million For Independent Artists

On February 6, Bandcamp, the world’s largest online music marketplace and community, came together for the first Bandcamp Friday of 2026. In just 24 hours, music fans worldwide generated a whopping $3.6 million in direct support for independent artists and labels, keeping the momentum from last year’s $19 million total Bandcamp Friday payout going.

Since launching during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in response to widespread touring losses, Bandcamp Fridays has grown into a fan-powered movement that continuously puts artists first. For an entire Friday, Bandcamp waives its revenue share so that artists and labels receive more of the money from every purchase.

Furthering their commitment to artists, earlier this year, Bandcamp introduced a platform-wide policy that bans music or audio created entirely or substantially by AI from being hosted on the site, affirming that only human-created work is permitted so listeners can be confident in the authenticity of what they discover.

February’s Bandcamp Friday, together with the rollout of the new AI policy, reinforces Bandcamp’s long-standing commitment to artist-first economics and authentic creative work. The next Bandcamp Friday takes place March 6.