SXSW 2027 returns to Austin March 15–21. The latest programming announcement adds more than 340 community-selected sessions across the Innovation, Music, and Film & TV Conferences. SXSW says the sessions were chosen after 94,484 community votes on 3,320 proposals, setting up a week that moves from live music and film to technology, business, and culture.
SxSW’s current Music Festival page suggests that more than 1,000 bands from 83 countries will hit 57 stages. The festival is built for live discovery: catching a set up close, crossing town for another, and leaving with new music to share. Performers, fans, creatives, and industry professionals converge here. Across seven nights, you can discover venues throughout downtown Austin, Showcases, Radio Day, the Music Clubhouse, mentor sessions, workshops, and demo listening that put career connections alongside the performances.
Some of the interesting panels that were announced include, “Leading with Influence: Who Gets to Shape Culture?” brings together Billboard’s Leila Cobo, Amazon Music’s Phylicia Fant, SpinLab Communications’ John Vlautin, and Warner Bailey of Assistants vs. Agents to discuss how personal brands and industry voices influence culture and artist careers.
Also notable was the panel, “AI Detection: The New Way to Protect Your Music,” which takes on the question of how labels, publishers, distributors, and rights organizations can identify AI-generated music and protect creative work. The announced speakers include Rasha Rahman of HumanStandard, Rithik Kundu of Joker Deck Ventures, Soomin Kim of Sony Music, and Turo Pekari of Copyright Delta.
SXSW’s discovery legacy spans decades. Its official music page highlights past alumni including Billie Eilish (2018), Kendrick Lamar and Charli XCX (2013), Cardi B (2017), and Amy Winehouse (2007). Those are past SXSW performers, not 2027 lineup announcements; the 2027 artist roster is still to come.
These archival performance photos come from SXSW.com and show artists from earlier editions. Captions identify the artist and year; none of the photos represent a 2027 booking.
2027 Music Showcase. SXSW’s Music Festival page listed more than 1,000 bands and 57 stages in 2026. This sets the scale for a week built around live discovery; the 2027 artist lineup is still to come. Link to apply: https://cart.sxsw.com/products/bandapp
Tech and innovation beyond the stage. The Innovation Conference’s announced ideas range from physical AI in city infrastructure to creator labor and the future of design. A session on autonomous systems and smart cities looks at how technology could influence energy use and city services, while another asks how creators can build a more visible, sustainable, and protected workforce.
Film & TV looks at what gets made, and who makes it. The announced sessions explore the business forces reshaping film and television, along with the creative work behind the camera. One conversation examines how the team behind A24’s Backrooms brought an internet-born horror concept to a feature film; another spotlights women working in editing, production design, and other below-the-line roles.
Education gets its own opening chapter. SXSW EDU runs March 13–16, with conference sessions, films, an Expo, workshops, networking, and competitions. Its final two days overlap with the main SXSW conferences, creating crossover days on March 15–16.
Dates: SXSW EDU, March 13–16, 2027; SXSW Conferences & Festivals, March 15–21, 2027.
Location: Austin, Texas, with music programming across downtown venues.
Explore: SXSW Music Festival, the SXSW 2027 schedule, Film & TV, and SXSW EDU.
