Welcome 2019 SXSW Registrants! Whether you are a seasoned SXSW veteran or first-timer, the Attendee Services Hub is your guide through SXSW resources to help you prepare for the adventure ahead.

SXSW is always working to make the event a positive experience for attendees. Returning for the 2019 season, we’ve made some changes in policies and developed a suite of tools to help you navigate and access conference and festival events.

With your SXSW Badge purchased and SXSW Social account activated, begin your SX preparations by downloading the SXSW GO mobile app. Now you are ready to dive into event tools, badge pickup information, registrant tips, and more.

Stay tuned to sxsw.com for continued 2019 announcements. We can’t wait to see you March 8-17, 2019 in Austin, Texas.

After your SXSW Badge has been purchased, you will receive a registration confirmation email. Click the link provided in that email to activate your SXSW account. Once you’ve activated your account, upload the photo you’d like to use for your badge. Questions? Email techsupport@sxsw.com.

Connect with new colleagues and friends before, during, and after March! SXSW Social is a tool that allows SXSW registrants to search for and message other conference attendees as well as book or modify your hotel reservation.

Once your badge has been activated, you are ready to begin exploring the suite of tools for event navigation and access below.

Download SXSW GO, the official mobile app of SXSW 2019, to build and sync your customized schedule with all your devices. Plus, access Event Navigation Tools to make the most out of your SX experience and navigate events in real time come March.

SXSW GO also offers personalized event recommendations based on your location in Austin and the time of the day to help you discover even more new music, films, and sessions.

Click the buttons below to download the mobile app on iPhone, iPad, or Android.

Download for iOS Download for Android

For a full list of mobile app features, visit the SXSW GO page.

Use the SXSWeek® Timeline to plan your 2019 SXSW experience from March 8-17 in Austin, Texas. Browse the weekly overview below for a quick look at the programming by day and stay tuned to SXSW News for announcements throughout the season.

View SXSWeek® Timeline

The full suite of Event Navigation Tools for the SXSW Schedule will be live in March 2019.

Event Status

Event Status makes it easy for you to check the current status of a room or a venue’s remaining capacity.

A Green-Yellow-Red system appears on the SXSW GO app, the online SXSW Schedule, and on the digital Event Status Boards located around the ACC and other venues. This system applies to conference sessions and festival events. Admission is subject to capacity.

Green = GO

Yellow = HURRY

Red = FULL

Venue Size

Both the SXSW GO app and the online SXSW Schedule at schedule.sxsw.com will show room size information as small, medium, or large for any venue to help you plan your schedule.

Small = 0-249
Medium = 250-599
Large = 600+

Favorited By

See how many people have starred any session, showcase, or screening with Favorited By on the SXSW GO mobile app and online SXSW Schedule. Not only will you be able to see how many people favorited an event, you can also see who.

SXXpress

SXXpress (South by Express) is a feature pass program for SXSW Platinum, Film, and Music registrants that allows enhanced access to Music and Film Festival programming.

SXXpress Passes allow eligible badgeholders to gain admission to Film screenings 30 minutes before showtime or go to the head of the Primary Access line for Music showcases. SXXpress Passes do not guarantee admission, which is subject to venue capacity and other restrictions. Passes are non-transferable and are only valid when accompanied by the corresponding badge.

SXXpress Passes have moved from a physical pass to a digital pass. Reserve your SXXpress Passes in the SXSW GO mobile app and the online Schedule 24 hours in advance of an event during SXSW 2019. Screenings will be available to request at 8am the day before a screening (i.e. An 11am Friday screening would be open for SXXpress sign up at 8am on Thursday). Learn More About SXXpress »

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Each year at the SXSW Conference, the multitude of high-profile topics bring on a high demand for sessions across 25 Tracks of programming. While those sessions can quickly fill up, Encore Sessions provide even more opportunities to see this season’s compelling content.

During the March event, the SXSW Conference will announce encore sessions on SXSW News and add them to the SXSW Schedule so must-see presentations are not missed.

Take a deeper dive into the 2019 programming including Keynotes, Featured Speakers, Tracks, and Session Formats. To highlight some examples of where ideas and technologies will merge together at SXSW 2019, we have identified 10 significant trends that we think will lead discussions this March.

Stay tuned to SXSW News and the SXSW Schedule for Encore Sessions during the SXSW Conference from March 8-16.

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Film Queue Cards

If you have a Film or Platinum Badge, and want to ensure you get a seat at the Stateside Theatre, Rollins Theatre, Atom Theater, or any Alamo Theater, show up early to get a numbered Queue Card.

• Queue Cards will be distributed starting one hour before screening time, and will be handed out until capacity has been met.
• Queue Cards guarantee you a seat as long as you stay in line at the venue.

Film Buffer Cards

After all available Queue Cards are distributed, Buffer Cards will be handed out.

While these cards do not guarantee entry to the theater, they will help badgeholders secure a seat if any Filmmaker Guest Tickets or SXXpress passes go unused at the screening.

Film Line Procedure

1) SXSW Platinum and Film Badgeholders with SXXpress passes enter first.
2) Primary Access: The remaining Film and Platinum badgeholders will enter the theater.
3) Secondary Access: If seats still remain, Film Wristbands, Music Badges, and Interactive Badges will enter the theater.
4) Single Admission Tickets: If seats still remain, single admission tickets will be sold for $15 starting 15 minutes before showtime. We sell tickets most often at our larger venues: The Paramount Theatre, Atom Theater at the Austin Convention Center, and ZACH Theatre.

Plan ahead and check on the Event Status – find the current status of a room or a venue’s remaining capacity in the SXSW GO app and on digital Event Status Boards located around the ACC and other venues.

Venues

Stay tuned for the list of official Film Festival Venues for more venue specific information including addresses, seating capacity, and the best walking routes between theaters.

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Expanded Access

No matter what badge type you have, you’ll have access to experience sessions from all 25 Tracks at the SXSW Conference, as well as film screenings, music showcases, and special industry parties and events.

All SXSW registrants also receive complimentary access to SXSW Gaming as well as the Registrants Lounge, Flatstock Poster Show, SXSW Marketplace, Startup Spotlight, SXSW Wellness Expo, SXSW Community Service Awards, and SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake concerts.

Other available networking events including BBQ Crash Course and Taco Meet Ups are sold* separately at the SXSW Cart checkout (*Subject to availability).

Click below to expand the Badge Comparison Chart for a breakdown of the primary and secondary access for each badge type.

View the Badge Comparison Chart

	Primary Access		Secondary Access
Interactive Tracks, Keynotes & Featured Speakers
Interactive Mentor Sessions & Workshops			No Secondary Access
Interactive Festival Events
Interactive Festival Opening Party			No Secondary Access
Film Tracks, Keynotes & Featured Speakers
Film Mentor Sessions, Round Tables, Workshops & Parties			No Secondary Access
Film Festival Screenings & Events
Film Festival Exclusive Premieres			No Secondary Access
Music Tracks, Keynotes & Featured Speakers
Music Mentor Sessions, Workshops & Parties			No Secondary Access
Music Festival Showcases & Events
Music Festival Exclusive Showcases			No Secondary Access
Convergence Tracks, Keynotes & Featured Speakers
Comedy Festival Showcases & Events
Trade Shows & Exhibitions
Networking Meet Ups
Film Festival SXXpress Passes			No Secondary Access
Music Festival SXXpress Passes			No Secondary Access
Closing BBQ & Softball Tournament			No Secondary Access
Hotel Priority Booking & Assistance
Access to SXSW Social Online Registrant Networking
SXSW Festival Shuttles

How Access Works

There are four SXSW Badge types: Platinum, Interactive, Film, and Music.

Badges are tied to three access types:

• Primary: admitted first
• Secondary: admitted second, after primary line
• Convergence: one line where all badges have equal access

If you have a Platinum Badge, you always have primary access to all events.

If you have an Interactive, Film, or Music Badge, you have primary access to the respective Conference tracks and events of your badge type, plus secondary access to other tracks and events outside your badge type, giving you the chance to experience more of what SXSW has to offer.

A select number of events remain primary access only.

How To Find Access

The icons on signage that match your badge type indicate which access line you join: primary or secondary.

Icons for Platinum, Interactive, Film, and Music can be seen below listed in order, left to right.

Access is also listed on your SXSW GO app and the online SXSW Schedule. SXSW representatives are on hand throughout the event to assist with lines and to answer your access questions.

See Event Status for more information on digital Event Status Boards and Green-Yellow-Red system color-coded system.

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New Badge Pickup location for 2019: Badges can be collected in the main registration area at the Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701) in Ballroom B (at the corner of Cesar Chavez Street and Red River Street).

Speakers, Sponsors, Filmmakers, Artists, Sales Clients and Media must go to this location for badge pickup. SXSW 2019 registration will open on Thursday, March 7, starting at 9am. View registration hours listed below by day.

What to Bring

To pick up your SXSW 2019 registration, you must present a government-issued ID. To expedite the badge pickup process, upload your photo to your SXSW Social account ahead of time.

Registration FAQ

Registration Hours

SXSW Badge Pickup will be busiest on Thursday, March 7 between 5pm – 9pm; Friday, March 8 between 9am – 1pm; and Saturday, March 9 between 9am – 11am. Other times will usually be less crowded.

Austin Convention Center – Ballroom B

500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

Thursday, March 7 | 9am – 11pm
Friday, March 8 | 9am – 11pm
Saturday, March 9 | 9am – 9pm
Sunday, March 10 | 9am – 9pm
Monday, March 11 | 9am – 9pm
Tuesday, March 12 | 9am – 10pm
Wednesday, March 13 | 9am – 10pm
Thursday, March 14 | 9am – 10pm
Friday, March 15 | 9am – 7pm
Saturday, March 16 | 9am – 7pm
Sunday, March 17 | 9am – 5pm

Registration Walking Map

We have calculated the distance and walk times between SXSW Registration and various downtown hotels in a handy SXSW Registration Walking Map.

View Walking Map

For more information on getting to the heart of SXSW from wherever you are staying in Austin, browse the Getting Around page and Transportation Directory for a comprehensive list of transportation services and other resources.

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It’s never too early to book your flight to SXSW. Airline prices seem to take off faster than the planes themselves the closer you book to your travel date. Use our handy travel tool to book flights early at the best available rates to save – you have much more important things to spend your money on, like tacos and barbecue.

At travel.sxsw.com, you can find flights from a multitude of airlines to Austin from your hometown, with the option to sort by price, duration, and number of stops. The skies get busy in Austin around March, so be sure to check for flight delays before leaving for your airport.

Once you arrive in Austin, don’t wait around for a ride at the airport! If you’re anything like us, you want to start experiencing SXSW as soon as possible. After you book your flight, switch over to the car hire tab in the travel tool and have a ride waiting for you when you fly in. Browse more transportation options on the Transportation Directory page.

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Pack For Every Occasion – Be Weather Ready

SXSW is more than just a conference. You’ll be attending sessions, meeting potential clients, attending screenings, networking at clubs, and hopping from one showcase to the next. If you’ve ever been to Austin, you know that the weather can be unpredictable – be sure to check weather listings before you leave. That being said, Austin is a really casual city. If you want to attend panels in your pajamas, we won’t judge.

Plan For Walking… A Lot

For those of you in fitness challenges counting your steps – get ready to score big this March! You’re going to be doing a lot walking, be comfort-conscious when selecting shoes to pack. If you can manage it, you may want to have a change of shoes available. Your feet will thank you.

Stay Hydrated

We strongly recommend that you pack sunscreen and a reusable water bottle. The Texas heat can be dehydrating and the air in the convention center can be quite dry, but you’ll find water stations throughout the building to refill your bottle and stay hydrated.

Make a Schedule

You don’t have to stick with it, but having some place to start will make all the difference. The process of making your schedule is a useful discovery tool for events you may not otherwise hear about. Use the SXSW Schedule or SXSW GO mobile app to build your customized schedule. Events can be filtered by conference, festivals, event type, venue, and time. Simply click the star to the left of an event’s listing to add it to your schedule. If you have any further questions, check out the Schedule Help page.

Wondering what events to schedule? Think about what you want out of your SXSW experience. Are you here to network? Are you here to learn? Or, are you just here to have the best week of your year? The sheer number of events can be daunting, but using the right filters in the scheduling tool will help you identify the events you’ll enjoy the most. Don’t be afraid to branch out – our Convergence programming events are open to more than one badge type and encourage networking between registrants from many different fields of expertise.

Use the Event Navigation Tools to help you navigate and access conference and festival events. Review our Attendee Safety page for general safety guidelines and resources.

Find a SXSW Friend

SXSW provides a fun, social atmosphere – even if you arrive in Austin on your own, you’ll be saying heartfelt goodbyes at the end of the week. Get a head start on making memories, and see if you know anyone attending in SXSW Social. Don’t hesitate to seek out SXSW-veteran attendees and speakers for advice, suggestions, and directions.

Pace Yourself

You will have the urge to hit the ground running and try to cram as much into your first day as possible. Resist it! You will only be overwhelmed and disappointed with yourself that you don’t have the energy to go to that great evening event you had your heart set on. As they say, SXSW is a marathon not a sprint.

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