THE MARQUEE
The 40th anniversary of South by Southwest (SXSW) officially kicked off in Austin on March 12, 2026, but attendees are finding a much different landscape than in years past. With the Austin Convention Center demolished for a $1.6 billion redevelopment, the festival has pivoted to a decentralized "City as a Venue" model. Programming is now anchored by three major hubs: the Innovation Clubhouse at Brazos Hall, the Film & TV Clubhouse at 800 Congress, and the Music Clubhouse at The Downright hotel.
This year's star power remains high despite the construction. Keynote speakers Jane Fonda, W. Kamau Bell, and the ACLU’s Jessica Weitz lead the "Say It Louder" session on artists and activism. Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg is also a major draw, discussing the future of storytelling, while Keke Palmer premiered her new film I Love Boosters alongside cast members Demi Moore and Naomi Ackie. Other notable appearances include Serena Williams discussing health innovation and Governor Gavin Newsom joining a live podcast recording.
On the technology front, artificial intelligence dominates the conversation. Futurist Amy Webb returned to launch her 2026 Emerging Tech Trend Report, while Apple veteran Phil Schiller joined David Pogue to reflect on the company's first 50 years. The music festival, which now runs concurrently with the tech tracks over a seven-day period, features a massive 20th-anniversary Spotify showcase at Stubb's with performances by Alanis Morissette and a DJ set by St. Vincent.
