Do you hear that? It’s the sound of 345,000 people packing their bags for one of Austin’s biggest annual events: SXSW.

The festival takes place from Friday, March 8 to Sunday, March 17 this year. Ahead of the celebrity spotting, live concerts, and jaw-dropping tech displays, we’re breaking down everything you need to know before you go, whether you have a badge or not.

Psst — check out our guide to every local musician playing at the fest this year, and stay tuned for an upcoming guide on how to do SXSW for free.

Impact

First, a quick refresh. SXSW is not actually one festival — it’s several.

The event includes hundreds of conference sessions in addition to dozens of interactive exhibitions and comedy, film, and music festivals.

The amount of people who come to Austin for SXSW is usually in the hundreds of thousands, with more than 345,000 attendees in 2023. The economic impact on the city is substantial, ranging between $218 million-$380 million per year over the last decade.

Conference

A bulk of the programming at SXSW is made up of panels, speakers, and keynotes categorized into 24 tracks based on subject area. Here are 15 must-see sessions we’re keeping our eye on.

Note: Access to programming depends on the type of badge you have — check “badges” under each event to see if your pass allows entry.

“De-Extinction Progress: Fact-Checking Jurassic Park” | Friday, March 8
Featured Session: “10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2024” | Friday, March 8
”From Recipes To Revenue With Giada De Laurentiis” | Saturday, March 9
“A Traveler's Guide to the 2024 Solar Eclipse” | Saturday, March 9
Featured Session: “A Conversation with Daisy Ridley” | Sunday, March 10
“Scaling Up With Mark Cuban & Andrew McCollum” | Sunday, March 10
“Why Not Drinking is the Hottest Trend in Drinking” | Sunday, March 10
Keynote: “Sue Bird & Jessica Robertson in Conversation About the Investment and Growth of Women’s Sports” | Sunday, March 10
“Featured Session: AI and Humanity’s Co-evolution with OpenAI’s Head of ChatGPT” | Monday, March 11
“Backstage with Austin City Limits (ACL): Five Decades of Music” | Monday, March 11
Featured Speaker: “Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain: Melding Heritage And Innovation.” | Tuesday, March 12
“Nick Viall: The Road From Reality TV To Podcast Powerhouse” | Tuesday, March 12
Keynote: “Daniels: How We Pulled Off ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’” | Tuesday, March 12
Featured Session: “Icons of Impact: A Conversation with Dwyane Wade” | Wednesday, March 13
Keynote: “The Black Keys” | Thursday, March 14

See the full conference schedule.

Film & TV

With dozens of star-studded world premieres, there’s more than enough to see at this year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival. Here are 10 we recommend:

Film premieres

“An Army of Women” | Friday, March 8 | This documentary follows three Austin women as they rebuild their lives after sexual assault.
“Babes” | Saturday, March 9 | Starring: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau | Pregnant Eden leans on her best friend to help her through her pregnancy in this family comedy.
“Monkey Man” | Monday, March 11 | Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley | The legend of Hanuman comes to life in this depiction of a man in a fight club who infiltrates his city’s elite class.
“The Fall Guy” | Tuesday, March 12 | Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt | Colt, a former stuntman, is drawn back into the action when his ex, a director of a big-budget movie, goes missing.
“Y2K” | Saturday, March 9 | Starring: Rachel Zegler, Jaeden Martell | This disaster comedy takes place on the last night of 1999.

Television premieres

“Black Twitter: A People’s History” | Friday, March 8 | This three-part documentary series examines the people and moments that built Black Twitter.
“Hacks” Season 3 | Saturday, March 9 | Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder | Continue the saga following a legacy comedian and her mentee.
“Star Trek: Discovery” Final Season | Monday, March 11 | Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones | It’s the beginning of the end for Captain Burnham and the crew.
“Photographer: Dan Winters” | Monday, March 11 | Austin-based photographer Dan Winters is the subject of this edition of the National Geographic series.
“Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story” | Thursday, March 14 | Follow the rock legend and see never-before-seen photos in this documentary.

See the full SXSW Film & TV Festival lineup.

Music

It’s not a festival without some live music. Read our roundup of all the local artists performing and take note of these five acts we’re excited for:

See the full SXSW Music lineup.

Comedy

The lineup for this year’s SXSW Comedy Festival has not yet been announced. However, last year headliners included Anna Kendrick, Chelsea Handler, Eric André, Patton Oswalt, and Tim Robinson.

Interactives and exhibitions

Everybody knows some of the best parts of SXSW can be exploring interactive pop-ups. Check out these five:

Sharpie X Paper Mate Studio | Friday, March 8 | Let your creative side shine at this pop-up featuring classes and doodle activations.
Wellness House | Saturday, March 9 | Join influencer Jane Ko and other locals at this event featuring workout sessions, panels, and happy hours.
The Wear House | Saturday, March 9-Sunday, March 10 | This year’s theme for the fashion pop-up is centered on Gen Z.
“The Seduction Of The Honeybee:” A Gallery Exhibition & Craft Cocktail Experience | Saturday, March 9 | Mānuka Health presents this exhibit on the honeybee’s favorite plants, alongside honey cocktails, and complimentary wellness products.
Marshall Funhouse | Wednesday, March 13-Friday, March 15 | Tune into three days of live music, plus DJs, vendors, and games.

Badge breakdown

Badges for SXSW range between depending on level of access:

Platinum: $1,990
Interactive: $1,595
Film & TV: $1,495
Music: $945

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.