6 New Year’s Resolutions for Musicians in 2026

2026 is right around the corner. Need help figuring out your musical goals for the next year? Here, you can borrow some of ours.

A new year always brings that familiar mix of ambition and uncertainty — especially for musicians trying to balance creativity, career, and real life. But 2026 is an especially ripe moment to reset. The tools available to artists have never been more powerful, the opportunities have never been more within reach, and creative, innovative, and unique sounds have never been more appreciated.

This is a great time to be a musician.

So with that in mind, here are our six most meaningful, achievable resolutions musicians can embrace this year — ones that actually make a difference in your artistry, your sustainability, and your momentum.

1. Choose One “North Star” Goal — and Let It Shape Everything Else

Instead of piling on a long list of ambitions (“release more music,” “tour more,” “practice more,” “get better mixes”), pick one big, defining priority for the year. Maybe it’s releasing your first EP, playing 12 more shows or booking yourself a short tour, or building a true community around your music.

Once you’ve got that North Star, make every smaller weekly or monthly action ladder up to it. This is how you prevent burnout and create focused, meaningful momentum.

2. Create a Sustainable Practice Routine — Not a Punishing One

Your musicianship won’t suddenly transform because you promised yourself you’d practice two hours every day. But it will transform with a routine that’s realistic and repeatable.

Try setting a minimum baseline — like 15 minutes of focused practice or writing each day — and let anything above that be a bonus. Small, consistent input always beats sporadic heroic bursts. In 2026, discipline is about sustainable energy use, not perfection.

3. Release More “In-Progress” Work Instead of Waiting for Masterpieces

Related to the last resolution, perfectionism is one of the biggest bottlenecks in modern music careers. This year, aim to release more demos, rehearsal clips, snippets, works-in-progress — anything that reveals the reality of your creative life.

This doesn’t cheapen your “real” releases. If anything, it builds anticipation, grows your confidence, and keeps you active instead of stuck. Think of this resolution as “creative transparency.” And your fans will respond to it.

4. Expand Your Skillset Beyond Your Primary Identity

Guitarist? Learn the basics of synth programming. Singer? Dive into light mixing or recording technique. Producer? Try an instrument you’ve never touched, taking on a new element of your identity could open new avenues for creative ideation and possibly new revenue streams.

2026 is going to reward musicians who are multidimensional. It’s not about needing to do everything yourself, its about empowering yourself and deepening your creative vocabulary. You don’t need to become world-class in these new areas; just focus on becoming conversational.

5. Build and Fortify Your Community

Community is one of the most undervalued parts of a modern music career. This year, focus on strengthening your ecosystem:

• Collaborate intentionally
• Attend local shows
• Engage online in ways that aren’t purely promotional
• Start or join creative groups, writing meetups, jam nights, feedback circles

When musicians talk about “luck,” they’re usually talking about their community coming through for them with support, offers, and opportunities. Build the relationships that will hopefully one day make good things happen.

6. Protect Your Mental and Physical Health as Part of Your Career Plan

Not separate from it — part of it. That means rest, boundaries, financial mindfulness, breaks from the algorithm grind, and saying no to things that drain you. We’ve talked about this before, but touring and other artistic activities over the course of a year can lead to burnout if you’re not careful.

Your creativity is not a renewable resource unless you treat yourself like the instrument you are. The most successful musicians in 2026 are going to be the ones who prioritize longevity over constant output.

And one last note, if you’re planning on taking your music on the road in 2026, make sure to post your tour dates on Bandsintown. The platform is home to over 100m registered fan users, so it’s a great place to start developing your audience wherever you go.