The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference & Festival returns to Austin, Texas from March 12–18, 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of one of the world’s most influential music industry gatherings. This year’s event will feature more than 300 showcasing artists from around the globe performing in over 300 live showcases, spread across venues throughout downtown Austin in a seven‑night celebration of new, developing, and established musical talent. In addition to performances, the SXSW Music Conference offers an extensive slate of panels, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to help artists and industry professionals elevate careers, discover trends, and build vital connections.
Running concurrently with the music portion is the SXSW Film & TV Festival & Conference, also taking place March 12–18, 2026, which brings together filmmakers, writers, producers, and audiences for world premieres, competitions, screenings, and industry discussions. The film segment spans feature and documentary categories, shorts, TV premieres, and innovative XR experiences, offering a global stage for storytelling and creative innovation that often precedes awards season buzz. Together with 850+ conference sessions and 600+ mentorship and networking events across all tracks, SXSW continues to be a premier destination for creative discovery, cultural dialogue, and industry engagement.
