SXSW 2026 Conferences & Festivals
Where Creative Thinking Meets Real-World Impact
This March 12–18, SXSW transforms downtown Austin, Texas into a global crossroads for ideas, industries, and culture. It’s seven unforgettable days of creators, professionals, founders, and leaders coming together to explore what’s next across technology, film and television, music, comedy, education, and business.
Whether you’re discovering SXSW for the first time or looking for the perfect overview to share with your colleagues, you’re in the right place.
Want to stay ahead of what’s next? Sign up for our newsletters below and be the first to hear about new speakers, lineup drops, screenings, badge savings, and opportunities across all conferences and festivals.
What is SXSW?
It’s a multi-conference, multi-festival experience and global hub for industry, innovation, and ideas. An experience built for cross-industry learning and connection that brings together professionals, leaders, innovators, and creatives to learn and build what’s next for the future.
Across downtown Austin, attendees move between sessions, screenings, showcases, and exhibitions. It’s where brands connect directly with consumers and where thousands of forward-thinking professionals gather for growth opportunities.
Three Conferences. Three Festivals. One Global Stage.
SXSW Innovation Conference
Where business, tech, creativity, and culture collide.
Dive into 10 forward-thinking Conference Tracks, spanning Creator Economy, Tech & AI, Startups, Brand & Marketing, Design, and more. Sessions are built around the ideas shaping 2026, from the AI Revolution and Creative Renaissance to the importance of Human Connection.
Expect Keynotes, Featured Sessions, SXSW Pitch, hands-on workshops, mentor sessions, and networking with leaders building what’s next.
SXSW Film & TV Festival & Conference
A launchpad for premieres, emerging filmmakers, and unforgettable stories.
Experience film and television screenings, cast Q&As, awards, XR experiences, and a conference that explores the business and craft of storytelling—all powered by one of the most engaged audiences in the world.
SXSW Music Festival & Conference
Seven nights of music discovery across dozens of venues in Austin’s legendary music scene.
A lineup of over a thousand Showcasing Artists from around the world, alongside a conference built for artists, industry professionals, and fans. It’s where careers are launched, scenes collide, and future headliners are discovered first.
SXSW Comedy Festival
Late-night laughs and discoveries across four days of comedic programming. Stand-up, improv, podcasts and more immersive events that bring the unexpected to Austin.
All Badges unlock SXSW Comedy.Experience Everything with Platinum
The SXSW Platinum Badge is the most complete way to experience SXSW.
Platinum gives you full access to all SXSW Conferences & Festivals, clubhouses, parties, and experiences across all seven days. With access to advanced Reservations, Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival, and SXSW merchandise discounts.
If you want the full SXSW experience, this is it.
SXSW EDU Conference & Festival
Kicking off the SX festivities March 9–12, SXSW EDU unites educators, policymakers, students, and creators who are shaping the future of teaching and learning. It’s an essential part of the SXSW ecosystem and a starting point for the week ahead.
Badge Access: SXSW EDU Badge
Crossover Day on March 12 bridges SXSW and SXSW EDU, unlocking shared programming for both SXSW and SXSW EDU badgeholders.
What Makes SXSW Different?
Seven Full Days of Programming
Our lineup expands as the season progresses, offering a full schedule designed for exploration and creating unique experiences. 👉 Explore the Schedule
Keynote Speakers & Featured Sessions
Hear from voices like Jennifer B. Wallace and Aza Raskin and dive deep into sessions exploring topics of human connection, technology, culture and storytelling. You won’t just hear about the future, you’ll see it unfold in real time.
Film & TV Premieres
Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters starring Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, and Demi Moore will mark the start of the 2026 Film & TV Festival. More film and television premieres to be announced.
Music Showcases
Curated alongside Showcase Presenters like Billboard, NPR Music Stations, De Los of LA Times, Rollingstone, with Showcasing Artists including The All-American Rejects, DJ_Dave, The Sophs, La Texana, and more.
Comedy
All badges unlock four days of SXSW Comedy— programming lineup coming soon!
Downtown Austin As Your Creative Village
Designated clubhouses, hotels, historic venues, conference spaces, theatres, lounges, restaurants, exhibitions, and hundreds of brand activations all within walking distance.
Cross-Industry Community
Not just a conference for a single industry, but a week-long event bringing together brand & marketing leaders, healthcare innovators, educators, filmmakers, musicians, founders, and creators—a convergence of industries you won’t find anywhere else.
Four Dynamic Exhibitions
Helping Creative People Achieve Their Goals
SXSW is where storytellers meet collaborators, startups find investors, small artists reach big stages, and educators discover cutting-edge solutions.
Expect the Unexpected
Surprises aren’t just possible, they’re inevitable. Robert Downey Jr. crashing the stage to share updates on Disney’s Avengers Campus. Olivia Wilde premiering Booksmart on her birthday as the audience sang to her during the Q&A. Wrestling paired with hip-hop. Beat-boxing monks. Moments like these remind us why curiosity is the best invitation.
What We Offer
A Curated Experience
You get to choose the credential that matches your goals and build a week built around what matters most to you.
For example: Want to explore technology and workplace sessions by day and catch a Music Festival Showcase by night? An Innovation Badge + Music Festival Wristband sounds like your perfect pairing.
A Platform for Your Brand
From large-scale brand activations and partner programming to exhibitions and digital marketing, SXSW offers unmatched opportunities to tap into a global, highly engaged audience.
Plan your experience and join a global community of creators, entrepreneurs, artists, executives, and fans who are ready to collaborate and discover.
Plan Your SXSW Experience
Group Registration
Convince Your Boss
Book Your SX Stay
Ready to Discover What’s Next?
Don’t wait—secure your SXSW experience before badge rates increase. Save up to $100 off on the walk-up rate when you buy your Platinum Badge by Thursday, March 5.
