See You Next Year for SXSW 2019

Thanks for another great SXSW Conference & Festivals! Stay tuned to sxsw.com for continued 2018 event coverage and upcoming 2019 information. We can’t wait to see you again next year, March 8-17, 2019 in Austin, Texas.

SXSW is always working to make the event a positive experience for attendees. For the 2018 SXSW season, we’ve made some changes in policies and developed a suite of tools to help you navigate and access conference and festival events.

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. First, download the SXSW GO mobile app and then dive into event tools, “How to Navigate SXSW 2018” video series, badge pickup information, registrant tips, and more.

After you purchased your badge, you should have received an email called “Welcome to SXSW Social.” 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 on your badge. Questions? Email techsupport@sxsw.com.

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

Download the official mobile app of SXSW 2018 to access Event Navigation Tools. The SXSW GO app allows you to sync your online schedule with your mobile device, so your info will always be up to date. Plus, get schedule recommendations and discover 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

Event Status

New for 2018, we’ve made it easy for you to check the current status of a room or a venue’s remaining capacity.

A Red-Yellow-Green 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.

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.

New for 2018, 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.

Learn More About SXXpress

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Conference Capacity Cards

When room capacity is reached, a limited number of people in line will be handed a “capacity card” for entrance, on a one-out, one-in basis, if they wish to wait.

Policies:

• Admission is not guaranteed and is subject to capacity
• No standing room, please take a seat
• No re-entry if room is at capacity
• Posted badge access is subject to change

More Options

When a room reaches capacity, you have other options:

• Overflow rooms will be available for simulcasts of a selection of Keynotes and Featured Sessions.
• Be on the lookout for Encore Presentations – some popular sessions, showcases, and films will be repeated during the course of the week.
• Audio Recordings for many sessions will be available within 48 hours on schedule.sxsw.com.
• 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.
• Go with the flow and discover one of the many surrounding events occurring at the same time. Unexpected discoveries are one of the best things about SXSW!

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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, Vimeo Theater at ACC, 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, Vimeo 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.

2018 Venues

Explore 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

Welcome to SXSW 2018. No matter what badge type you have, you’ll have access to experience sessions from all 24 conference tracks, as well as film festival screenings, music showcases, and special industry parties and events.

All SXSW registrants also receive complimentary access to SXSW Gaming as well as the SXSW Job Market, Flatstock Poster Show, Registrants Lounge, SXSW Community Service Awards, SouthBites Trailer Park, and SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake.

View Full Badge Comparison Chart

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.

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 Red-Yellow-Green color-coded system.

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Badges can be collected in the main registration area at the Austin Convention Center, or in the satellite location at the Palmer Events Center.

The main registration area is located in Exhibit Hall 5 on the 4th Street side of the Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701). Speakers, Sponsors, Filmmakers, Artists, Sales Clients and Media must go to this location for badge pickup. SXSW 2018 registration will open on Thursday, March 8, starting at 9am. View registration hours listed below by day.

The satellite registration and badge pickup is located in Exhibit Hall 1 of the Palmer Events Center (900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, Texas 78704), and is open on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 from 9am to 11pm.

What to Bring

To pick up your SXSW 2018 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.

Your QuickCode allows staff to quickly check you in by scanning your code to confirm your registration. You’ll still be asked to present your ID. If possible, please bring bring your QuickCode on your smartphone or paper printout to speed up the registration process — it’s not necessary to collect your badge but it will save you time. If you need assistance, please ask any SXSW volunteer.

Registration FAQ

Registration Hours

SXSW Badge Pickup will be busiest on Friday, March 9 between 9am – 1pm and Saturday, March 10 morning between 9am – 11am. Other times will usually be less crowded.

Austin Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 5

500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

Palmer Events Center – Satellite Location

900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, Texas 78704

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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.

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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