SXSW 2026 drops second weekend; conference, festivals to run concurrently

AUSTIN, Texas - SXSW is making big changes for next year, including dropping the second weekend and shortening the festival to seven days instead of nine.

Event organizers also plan to reduce badge prices to make the festival more affordable.

The 2026 event is also the festival's 40th.

SXSW 2026

What we know:

Next year's SXSW is set for March 12-18 in Austin, two days shorter than the 2025 event.

SXSW will also be running all three of its tracks (Conference, Film & TV Festival, and Music Festival) concurrently over those seven days.

The festival says this will give music fans the chance to enjoy seven nights of showcases instead of six and continue paring down the number of showcasing artists while spreading the shows out over a greater part of the event.

What's next:

Badges for the SXSW 2026 festivals and conference are now on sale at a special low rate through March 31.

Badges for the three tracks (Interactive, Film & TV, and Music) are available as well as the platinum badge, which gives attendees access to all SXSW events.

Badges for the SXSW EDU conference, which is set for March 9-12, 2026, are also available for purchase.

For more information on SXSW 2026 badges, click here.

Reaction to the changes

What they're saying:

"South By has always been like the showcasing, the showcase to really present to the world your talents and in the vibrant city of Austin," said local musician Lew Apollo.

Each year SXSW draws thousands to the city of Austin for film, music, tech, and fun. SXSW is business-turned-pleasure for some attendees like musician Ben E. Davis from Burbank, California.

"I was there to network and promote my new single, ‘American Boy in London’. And I just met so many people, got invited to different parties", said Davis.

Apollo feels that the plan to shorten the festival in 2026 is beneficial for local artists.

"What I heard is they're cutting that second weekend, but I really think there's not going to be a lack of music in Austin," said Apollo.

However, Davis feels a little different.

"If the music portion is going to get cut off or scaled back, I probably wouldn't come because I have been in years past for the film part to support another friend, but I’m a musician," said Davis.

On the lower badge prices, Apollo and Davis were in agreement.

"I definitely think lowering the badge prices is a good idea," said Davis.

"It would be awesome to, to allow, you know, to make that barrier of entry way smaller. So, a lot of people could come by and check out the national bands that are here in town," said Apollo.

Austin Convention Center closure

Big picture view:

SXSW says the changes were prompted by the fact that the Austin Convention Center will be closing down soon.

The City of Austin is redeveloping and expanding the center as part of the Unconventional ATX project. 

The convention center is expected to close in April 2025 and construction is scheduled to begin soon after and be completed by early 2029 for the spring festival season.

During construction, the city says events will take place at the Palmer Events Center and hotels throughout Austin.

By the numbers:

The entire redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center is expected to cost $1.6 billion, funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax and Convention Center revenues.

The center has also set aside an "unprecedented" $17.7 million investment in public art. Ten talented local artists will collaborate closely with architects and construction teams to seamlessly integrate art into the center’s design. Those artists will be announced in early 2025, with additional opportunities for public art expected to follow.

The new, larger center will nearly double the rentable square footage of the existing facility, growing from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet.

The new convention center will also be the world’s first zero-carbon-certified convention center, as determined by the International Living Futures Institute.

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