The changes come as SXSW continues to shift its focus toward the event’s Interactive and Film and TV components.
AUSTIN, Texas — Changes are coming to South by Southwest (SXSW) next year.
Instead of spanning from one mid-March weekend to the next, SXSW 2026 will be two days shorter, according to KVUE’s media partners at the Austin American-Statesman. SXSW 2026 is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, to Wednesday, March 18, cutting the second music-centric weekend.
However, SXSW organizers say even with the trimmed-down schedule, the Music festival isn’t getting shorter.
“SXSW 2026 will feature one more night of music as showcases will take place throughout the entire event, with seven nights of shows instead of six,” SXSW VP of Communications Lillian Park said in a statement to the Statesman.
KVUE is reaching out to SXSW for more information about the change.
Why is SXSW making this change?
SXSW got its start as a music-only festival in 1987, but it’s been evolving pretty much ever since. Both the Interactive and Film and TV festivals have expanded over the decades.
But the Statesman notes that the Music festival has been getting smaller. While Music used to pack in 2,000 bands, during SXSW 2025, that number was 1,012. Of those, 35% were international acts.
And some comments on a Reddit thread discussing the SXSW 2026 changes reflect a more muted Music festival this time around.
“This is sad to hear. the drop in crowds was really noticeable this week,” one commenter wrote.
“This year was still notably lighter than last year or the year before,” another commenter wrote. “Even for all the official showcases.”
Changes to badges and pricing
SXSW is also changing which badges get into which events. For the last several years, badges for each track (Interactive, Music and Film and TV) granted secondary access to the other tracks. But in 2026, the Statesman reports that only the Platinum badge will grant access to all festival tracks.
For 2026, SXSW is also offering unprecedented early bird discounts, cutting prices in half for a limited time. Through March 31, Platinum badges will be available for $1,135, Interactive for $785, Film and Television for $700 and Music for $475.
For context, walk-up prices for 2025 were $2,295 for Platinum, $1,695 for Interactive, $1,395 for Film and TV and $995 for Music.
