SXSW Music Festival to Run Shorter in 2026 Due to Convention Center Closure
SXSW organizers have announced plans to shorten their 2026 music festival due to the Austin Convention Center's closure for a four-year redevelopment project beginning April 1, 2025. The music weekend will be reduced by two days, marking a significant change for the festival that has been running since 1987.
Sign displaying SXSW festival dates
The 2026 festival will be distributed across various venues throughout Austin. Festival organizers view this change as an opportunity to implement new ideas and approaches to the event format.
Notably, band participation has been declining since 2010, with artists expressing concerns about the festival's invitation-only policy and application fees. Many performers have criticized the lack of full festival access despite their participation. The 2025 edition featured approximately 1,012 performing bands.
The festival's film and television components have increasingly overshadowed the music portion. While 2025's music lineup included notable acts like John Fogerty, Tom Morello, Khalid, and Big Freedia, the event also attracted major film and television celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Paul Rudd, Blake Lively, and Ben Affleck.
Veteran journalist Andy Langer, who has covered SXSW since its inception, notes a significant drop in attendance during the music portion of the festival, with many attendees departing after the tech and film segments conclude.
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Greta Van Fleet performing on stage