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The survival and synaptic integration of transplanted dopaminergic (DA) progenitors are essential for ameliorating motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived DA progenitors are, however, exposed to numerous stressors prior to, and during, implantation that result in poor survival. Additionally, hPSC-derived grafts show inferior plasticity compared to fetal tissue grafts. These observations suggest that a more conducive host environment may improve graft outcomes. Here, tissue-specific support to DA progenitor grafts is provided with a fully characterized self-assembling peptide hydrogel. This biomimetic hydrogel matrix is programmed to support DA progenitors by i) including a laminin epitope within the matrix; and ii) shear encapsulating glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to ensure its sustained delivery. The biocompatible hydrogel biased a 51% increase in A9 neuron specification—a subpopulation of DA neurons critical for motor function. The sustained delivery of GDNF induced a 2.7-fold increase in DA neurons and enhanced graft plasticity, resulting in significant improvements in motor deficits at 6 months. These findings highlight the therapeutic benefit of stepwise customization of tissue-specific hydrogels to improve the physical and trophic support of human PSC-derived neural transplants, resulting in improved standardization, predictability and functional efficacy of grafts for PD.