About
The SXSW Music Festival & Conference brings together artists, industry professionals, creatives, and music lovers from around the world to make connections, elevate their careers, and celebrate the magic of live music – from legendary performers to the most exciting new talent.
New, developing, and established artists enhance their careers by showcasing to the global music industry at the SXSW Music Festival & Conference each year. Showcases are curated by South By Southwest® in collaboration with record labels, booking agencies, management and PR firms, international export offices, music festivals, media outlets, industry trade organizations, lifestyle brands, and more.
Showcasing Artists & Showcase Presenters
Showcasing artists are the beating heart of the SXSW Music Festival. Hundreds of musicians from around the world bring new sounds, big energy, and some truly unforgettable live moments to stages all across Austin. SXSW Music Festival and Conference is all about celebrating international artists and global scenes, with both emerging talent and iconic names from a vast array of genres
This year’s event includes iconic names like Junior H, Lola Young, The All-American Rejects, Gogol Bordello, BigXthaPlug, and Devin the Dude to boundary-pushers like DeVotchKa, Modeselektor, OG Ron C, Joshua Ray Walker, Kaash Paige, Mau P, and so many more. Check out the full list of showcasing artists here to learn more.
Showcase Presenters are the trendsetters and creative partners behind the shows, curating lineups and hosting events that ensure fans and industry folks alike discover their next favorite artists. Some of this year's curatorial masters includes NPR Music Stations, LA Times De Los, Billboard, Rolling Stone, British Music Embassy, Luck Presents, Sony Music Latin, and DreamCon. Learn more about Showcase Presenters via the schedule here.
Important Dates
February 19, 2026
RESERVATIONS OPEN FOR PLATINUM BADGEHOLDERS
1st Window - For Platinum Badgeholders (3 per day) begins at 9AM Central.
February 26, 2026
reservations open for platinum badgeholders and music badgeholders
2nd Window- For Platinum Badgeholders and Music Badgeholders begins at 9AM Central.
March 5, 2026
bonus reservations open for platinum and film & TV badgeholders
3rd Window for Platinum and Film & TV Badgeholders for additional non-conflicting screenings opens at 9AM Central.
Conference
Formats
Keynotes
Powerful Presentations by Diverse Visionaries
Daily Keynotes showcase some of the world's most inspired thinkers with powerful new ideas in the ever-evolving worlds of technology, film, culture, and music.
Featured Sessions
Mind-Expanding Conversations
Featured Sessions bring together some of the biggest and brightest names of our time. Spanning across various trends and SXSW Conference Tracks, Featured Speakers present a snapshot of the most transformative ideas shaping our future.
Presentations / Panels / Fireside Chats
Gain Industry Expertise
Presentations include 1-2 experts offering deep dives into targeted topics. Panels feature 3-4 industry professionals sharing different perspectives based on a specific subject. Fireside Chats include two speakers in conversation discussing a variety of topics.
Workshops
Up Your Career Development Game
Workshops offer a variety of hands-on learning activities and specific takeaways for professional growth.
Mentor Sessions
Connect with Industry Experts
Mentor Sessions offer one-on-one coaching by professionals from all areas of the tech, film, and music industries. Within the 75-minute duration of Mentor Sessions, there will be five one-on-one meetings.
Meet Ups
Find Your Next Creative Collaborator
With SXSW attracting registrants from all over the world, Meet Ups are a more relaxed way to connect, seek out inspiration, and find collaboration opportunities across a wide range of industries, interests, and groups.
Core Conversations
Interact and Engage
Sessions with more direct interaction with the audience than a typical Panel format. Leaders engage and guide their audience in a lively discussion on the topic at hand. Audience size is limited to approximately 50 participants.
If you haven’t grabbed one already, purchase a Music Badge or Music Wristband.
clubhouse
The Music Clubhouse is located at The Downright Austin. Perfect for networking and industry connections, the Clubhouse will also feature live performances with Radio Day Stage and International Nights, and mentor sessions. It's also the perfect spot to access most of our music venues by foot or a quick rideshare. Each day the Music Clubhouse will host meetups and networking events as well as activations.
Music Clubhouse Dates & Hours: 3/13 – 3/18, 12pm – 8pm
MUSIC Festival FAQ
2026 event timeline
SXSW celebrates its 40th event with a reimagined experience, bringing the Innovation Conference, Film & TV Festival, Music Festival, and Comedy Festival together for the first time to run concurrently over seven exciting days and nights.
event access & line guide
New for 2026, Reservations are available for SXSW Music Badges – Music (2 per day). When your Reservation window opens, sign in to the Schedule to reserve admittance to select music festival showcases, and comedy festival showcases.
Mentor Sessions & Workshops require Reservations, but these don’t count against your daily limit.
Music Badgeholders are now able to make their Reservations once the 2nd Window opens on Thursday, February 26th at 9am Central time.
Take a look at our Reservations and Lines Guide for more information.
For Music Showcases, arrive no later than 10pm. Music Showcase Reservations are void after that time. Remember to move to the front of the line for faster admission.
Arrive 30 minutes prior for Keynotes and Featured SXSW Music Conference Sessions. Arrive 15 minutes before Mentor Sessions, Workshops, and all other events. Join the Reservations line or if there is only one line, move to the front for faster admission.
festival venues
The SXSW Music Festival & Conference will have close to 60 music venues in total spread all across downtown Austin. In addition to Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds at Auditorium Shores and Rolling Stone's Future of Music at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, other venues include Stubb's, Mohawk, Antone's, Continental Club, Swan Dive, Mala Fama/Mala Vida, Hotel Vegas, 13th Floor, Flamingo Cantina, and more.
SXSW MUSIC FEST ALUMNI
2024 SXSW Music Festival – Balthvs – Photo by Tico Mendoza
Billie Eilish – SXSW 2018 – Photo by Nolan Weinschenk
Looking back at 40 years of SXSW, it's staggering to think about the vast array of legendary artists and industry greats have graced the stages of the SXSW Music Festival & Conference over the decades. For an even deeper dive into the history of the festival, check out THE ULTIMATE SXSW TIMELINE.
SXSW Showcasing Artist Alumni Snapshot
From Dolly to Beastie Boys, to powerhouse newcomers Wet Leg and Peso Pluma, take a look at just a few of the names that have come through Austin, TX over the years.
Dolly Parton (2022)
Wet Leg (2022)
Shawn Mendes (2022)
Jasmine.4.t (2025)
Cymande (2022)
Beck (1994, 2022)
Sebastian Yatra (2022)
Billie Eilish (2017, 2018, 2019)
Megan Thee Stallion (2018, 2019)
Peso Pluma (2024)
Phoebe Bridgers (2017)
J Balvin (2019)
Dua Lipa (2016)
Depeche Mode (2013)
Kendrick Lamar (2011, 2013, 2014)
Lizzo (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Charli XCX (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)
SOPHIE (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
Sylvan Esso (2014, 2017, 2018)
J. Cole (2012, 2015)
Richie Hawtin (2011, 2013, 2016)
Cat Power (1996, 2003)
Garth Brooks (2017)
The National (2004, 2005)
The White Stripes (2001)
Big Thief (2016, 2017)
Post Malone (2015)
The Black Keys (2003, 2004, 2008, 2024)
CHVRCHES (2013, 2016)
iKON (2019)
Max Richter (2018)
Wolf Alice (2014, 2015)
Rae Sremmurd (2015, 2016, 2018)
Bomba Estereo (2009, 2010, 2012, 2015)
Chelsea Wolfe (2012)
Loretta Lynn (2016)
Disclosure (2013)
Travis Scott (2014, 2015)
Carl Craig (2000)
Otoboke Beaver (2017, 2019)
Cardi B (2017)
Wiz Khalifa (2011, 2013, 2014)
Courtney Barnett (2015)
Grupo Frontera (2025)
Perfume (2015)
Russ (2016)
SZA (2014)
Flo Milli (2024)
Angel Olsen (2014, 2015, 2017)
Mr Eazi (2017, 2019)
Betty Who (2014, 2017, 2020)
Animal Collective (2006)
TENGGER (2024)
Primal Scream (2009)
Skrillex (2011, 2012, 2014)
Twin Shadow (2025)
The 1975 (2013, 2014)
Juanes (2012)
f(x) (2013)
Alabama Shakes (2012)
Mastodon (2002, 2003, 2007, 2017)
The Strokes (2001, 2011)
Queens of the Stone Age (1998, 1999, 2011)
Christine and the Queens (2015)
Anderson .Paak (2014, 2016)
Coldplay (2014)
Cafe Tacvba (2013)
Yo Gotti (2013, 2015)
50 Cent (2012, 2014)
Childish Gambino (2011, 2014)
Erykah Badu (1994, 2014, 2016)
Johnny Cash (1994)
Death Cab For Cutie (1999, 2003)
Bright Eyes (1999, 2000, 2011)
Peter Murphy (2009, 2011)
Tinariwen (2014)
Margo Price (2016)
Charles Bradley (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (2006, 2007, 2010, 2013)
Khruangbin (2016, 2017)
Japanese Breakfast (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022)
Sonic Youth (1998)
Matthew Dear (2003, 2004, 2012, 2013)
Beastie Boys (2006)
The Zombies (2013, 2015, 2023)
BALTHVS (2024)
Marina and the Diamonds (2015)
Little Simz (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Tove Lo (2014, 2015)
Motörhead (2010)
Florence and the Machine (2008)
Tinashe (2014, 2017, 2018)
Teezo Touchdown (2024)
John Fogerty (2025)
Shame (2017, 2018)
Idles (2017, 2018)
The Roots (2016, 2017)
Bar Italia (2024)
Norah Jones (2002, 2012)
The Shins (2001, 2012)
Psychic TV (2011)
Lady Gaga (2014)
Lana Del Rey (2017)
The Avett Brothers (2009, 2016,2017)
Khalid (2018, 2019)
Kode9 (2015)
LCD Soundsystem (2005)
Kanye West (2011, 2014)
Amy Winehouse (2007)
Katy Perry (2007, 2008)
Songhoy Blues (2015)
Fat Dog (2024)
A$AP Rocky (2012, 2014, 2019)
Mineral (1996, 1997)
Young Thug (2014, 2015)
Janelle Monae (2009)
Run The Jewels (2015)
Bicep (2013)
Lee “Scratch” Perry (2007)
New York Dolls (2005,2009)
Lil Wayne (2012, 2017)
John Summit (2025)
Miguel (2018)
Dry Cleaning (2024)
Jack Harlow (2017, 2018)
Lil Uzi Vert (2016, 2017)
Ice Cube (2008, 2013)
Jay-Z (2012, 2014)
Public Enemy (2007, 2013)
Mitski (2016)
Blood Orange (2012, 2016)
Santa Fe Klan (2024)
Mogwai (2001, 2006, 2024)
Jimmy Eat World (1997, 1998, 1999, 2017)
Mount Kimbie (2011, 2013)
Nathaniel Rateliff (2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019)
Young Miko (2024)
Rema (2025)
sxsw music news
