Reports of SXSW’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Despite headlines circulating online on Monday suggesting that the music component of the annual festival in Austin, Texas, is all but dead for 2026, organizers tell Rolling Stone that live music will be well-represented next year.
“We will be programming music across all SXSW dates next year, which will expand on our current programming, not scale it back,” says Brian Hobbs, SXSW’s Director of Music Festival Programming. “This should be exciting news for everyone, especially the artists, fans, and conference attendees who come for Interactive and Film Fest. SXSW music is not scaling back; we are leveling up in 2026 and beyond.”
(Full disclosure: Rolling Stone’s parent company, P-MRC, has held a 50 percent stake in SXSW since 2021, and RS puts on a well-attended showcase there each year.)
According to a SXSW spokesperson, the music, film/TV, and interactive portions of the conference will all happen during the same week in 2026, instead of taking place at separate times. The decision was made, in part, to navigate the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center, which is set to undergo a major renovation beginning next month.
“We are really excited about the plans for SXSW 2026. With the Austin Convention Center closing down for three years, we believe it’s a great opportunity to put new ideas into action,” the spokesperson says. “A shorter SX gives attendees more of a chance to be here for the entire run. With the Conference, Film & TV Festival, and Music Festival all taking place concurrently over seven days, everyone will have the chance to experience the whole of SXSW.”
Echoing Hobbs’ statement, the spokesperson points out that the music portion will actually gain a night of showcases, going from six to seven when SXSW kicks off March 12, 2026, and runs through the 18th.
Courtesy SXSW
“It also allows us to continue the work the Music Festival programmers have done over the last decade in paring down the numbers of showcasing artists while spreading the shows out over a greater part of the event,” they say. “This creates a more curated experience for attendees and artists while retaining the discovery that the music festival is known for.”
The goal, according to SXSW, is to further build the festival community: “We also know that post-pandemic attendees want more personalized experiences, and we’re excited to explore new ways to bring people together.”
This year, SXSW’s music week saw official and unofficial performances all over Austin by established stars like John Fogerty, Charley Crockett, Big Freedia, and St. Vincent; buzzy rising acts including the Molotovs, the Thing, Dutch Interior, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Lily Seabird, Honeyglaze, Brutus VIII, Case Oats, and Quiet Light; and Rolling Stone’s four-night Future of Music showcase at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, headlined by Benson Boone, Megan Moroney, Ivan Cornejo, and Rema.
