The South by Southwest (SXSW) festival will undergo significant changes for its 2026 event. The conference and festival, which has taken over the Austin Convention Center and surrounding venues for nearly two weeks, will now run from March 12-18 instead of the traditional 10-day schedule.
Organizers cited a desire to make the festival more affordable as the main reason for the change. To achieve this, they will lower presale badge prices and streamline access to improve the attendee experience.
The changes come at a time when the Austin Convention Center is set to close in April for a complete redesign until 2029. Festival officials are using this opportunity to reinvent spaces and create industry-specific hubs that enable new connections and community building, all while delivering stellar programming.
SXSW has been one of the largest events in Austin since its inception in 1987, attracting thousands of attendees each year. While last year’s festival saw a decline in attendance, with more people participating virtually than in person, it still brought in significant revenue for the city.
According to Carlos Soto, spokesperson for the city’s Economic Development Department, it is too early to predict the economic impact of these changes. However, he emphasized that South by Southwest remains a vital driver of local economy and will continue to support creatives, businesses, and visitors alike.
Source: https://www.kut.org/austin/2025-03-17/sxsw-austin-tx-march-interactive-film-music-festival