September is Support Local Music Month in Austin

As summer winds down and we look toward the fall, HAAM is thrilled to announce the newly proclaimed and first-ever “Support Local Music Month” in Austin — a month-long celebration celebration of what makes Austin special, its musicians and the creatives who create the music we all enjoy.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson proclaimed September as “Support Local Music Month” as a formal recognition of the impact local musicians have in the everyday lives of our community members. These artists enhance our cultural identity, drive tourism and bring in businesses who all understand the importance of our live-music scene and its benefits.

Powered by PNC and C3 Presents and supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment, the 2026 HAAM Day Music Festival is poised to be the culminating celebration of Support Local Music Month as the world's largest one-day, all-local music festival. where hundreds of Austin musicians perform free shows across the city to support HAAM’s mission. 

Happening September 22nd, this year’s HDMF features over 400+ musicians and 200+ performances across 100+ venues throughout Central Texas. From the iconic Stubb’s to neighborhood H-E-B’s and TownLake Trail, music will literally be everywhere. The community’s support directly provides healthcare services for the musicians, DJs, and music teachers HAAM serves. 

HAAM envisions Austinites supporting the healthiest and most creative musicians in the world.

To make this vision a reality, HAAM Day Music Festival drives the community to discover new artists, visit neighborhood venues, and invest in the local music economy that defines the city's identity. HAAM was founded in 2005 in an effort to alleviate some of the financial burdens on musicians. For more than 20 years, HAAM has kept music in Austin alive and well, providing its members more than $215 million in healthcare services – including dental, hearing, vision, wellness, specialty care programs, and health care navigation services.

According to a recent presentation with the Austin Chamber of Commerce, over the past five years, the Austin music community alone has driven more than $2.7 billion in economic impact. Central Texas supports more than 22,000 direct music jobs and an additional 61,000 ancillary roles tied to the industry. We must acknowledge our working musician’s contributions and help support them, so they are able to continue to create and remain in the Live Music Capital of the World, especially with the rising costs of housing and healthcare.

More than a celebration, “Support Local Music Month” is a call to action: every concert ticket purchased, venue visited, tip given, and local artist streamed helps sustain the musicians and small businesses that keep Austin the “Live Music Capital of the World”. During September, select restaurants and retail outlets will be supporting local musicians with a percentage of their daily sales. 

HAAM Day Music Festival has grown from 13 live music locations in its first year in 2005, to over 100 venues across Central Texas in 2025. This growth reflects how much the generous support of area businesses and music lovers have transformed the healthcare landscape for local artists. It is the organization's hope that in recognizing “Support Local Music Month”, they will draw in even more support to help Austin’s underserved music community.

Supporting local music is essential to preserving Austin's culture, strengthening its economy, and ensuring the city's music scene thrives for generations to come.