SXSW 2026 is just around the bend, which means the Capital City is preparing to host hundreds of thousands of visitors, celebrities, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and more.

The festival will be held from Thursday, March 12 to Wednesday, March 18 this year. Even though it's shorter than usual due to the ongoing Austin Convention Center construction, there's still a lot on the agenda.

While you're prepping your schedule, don't miss our guides to all the Austin-based musicians performing and SXSW events that don't require a badge.

Impactdone

This isn't just one festival we're talking about — it's several of them wrapped into one.

SXSW has so much programming that it would be impossible to see it all. There's so much, that the unofficial motto of the festival is "JOMO," aka "joy of missing out." The seven-day festival includes keynote sessions, live music, film premieres, love podcasts, comedy sets, and interactive exhibits.

Here are a few fun stats about SXSW's reach in 2025:

309,327 people attended the SXSW and SXSW Edu
3,409 people spoke during the conference
1,118 musicians performed
28% of attendees came from one of 95 countries outside the US

Plus, SXSW generated $380.9 million worth of economic activity in Austin during the 2023 fest.

Conferencedone

SXSW is on a streamlined schedule this year, condensed down to 21 tracks and four badge types. Here are some of the biggest sessions we're keeping an eye on.

Note: Programming access prioritizes different badge types — check “badges” under each event to see if your pass allows entry.

Keynote: "The Big Picture with Steven Spielberg Live from SXSW" | Friday, March 13
Featured Session: "A Waste of Time with Larry David and Jeff Schaffer" | Friday, March 13
Featured Session: "Enough with the Bullsh*T: BuzzFeed Founder Shares His Plan to Make the Internet Fun Again" | Friday, March 13
Featured Session: "The Mythical Model: Next Gen Creator-Brand Partnerships" | Saturday, March 14
Featured Session: "Jamie Lee Curtis. If Not Now, When, if Not Me, Who? Pivoting and Manifesting!" | Saturday, March 14
Featured Session: "Matt Strauss & Andy Cohen: Community, Culture & the Future of Entertainment" | Sunday, March 15
Featured Session: "A Conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin on the 1929 Financial Crash — and Today’s Economy" | Sunday, March 15
Featured Session: "Reclaiming our Humanity in the Age of AI" | Sunday, March 15
Featured Session: "Trusted, Valued, Essential: Why PBS is Here to Stay, With or Without Federal Funding" | Monday, March 16
Featured Session: "Chaos, Craft, and Chris Fleming" | Tuesday, March 17
Featured Session: "Cast and Creators on HBO's ROOSTER with Steve Carell, Matt Tarses, Bill Lawrence, and more" | Tuesday, March 17
Keynote: "Say It Louder: Artists, Activism & the First Amendment" | Wednesday, March 18

We also tune in to the welcoming remarks to set the tone for the festival. See the full conference schedule.

Film & TVdone

Don't touch that dial. There are dozens of world premieres on the SXSW schedule, with more than enough content to consume. Here are six film + TV premieres that we recommend:

Film premieres

"I Love Boosters" | Thursday, March 12 + Friday, March 13 | Starring: Keke Palmer, Will Poulter, and Demi Moore
"Forbidden Fruits" | Monday, March 16 + Tuesday, March 17 | Starring: Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Emma Chamberlain, and Gabrielle Union
"Over Your Dead Body" | Saturday, March 14 + Monday, March 16 | Starring: Samara Weaving, Jason Segel, and Timothy Olyphant

Television premieres

"Margo's Got Money Troubles" | Thursday, March 12 | Starring: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Nicole Kidman, and Rico Nasty
"The Audacity" | Saturday, March 14 | Starring: Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg, and Zach Galifianakis
"The Dark Wizard" | Sunday, March 15 | Starring: Dean Potter, Jen Rapp, and Elizabeth Potter

See the full SXSW Film & TV Festival lineup.

Musicdone

You can't have a festival in the Live Music Capital of the World without some tunes. Read our roundup of all 166 local artists performing at SXSW 2026 — and jot down these big names we're excited to see:

Plus, this year's Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival (which has 1,000 wristbands available to reserve or tickets for $65+) lineup includes Calvin Harris, Major Lazer, Christina Aguilera, GROUPLOVE, and Foster the People.

Check out the official SXSW Playlist and the full SXSW Music lineup.

ComedyDone

The Creek & The Cave and Esther's Follies will host this year's SXSW Comedy Festival. Here are some of the biggest performers coming to ATX.

Badge breakdowndone

Badges for SXSW range in price depending on the level of access:

Platinum: $1,995+
Innovation: $1,395+
Film & TV: $1,170+
Music: $820+

That said, volunteers at the festival can receive a free badge. To earn a badge, you’ll need to work between 24 and 56 hours, depending on the badge you’re aiming for, and be at least 18 years old. See the full requirements.