Our Staff Picks for the 2026 SXSW Conferences & Festivals

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We don't just work at SXSW, we go each year to stay on top of our respective games. And we know sifting through more than 850 Conference Sessions, 600 mentor and networking events, 4,000 musicians and 460 Film & TV screenings can be daunting. So how on Earth do you figure out what to do, see, and experience? Don't sweat it! We've done the work for you. Six of the extremely knowledgeable SXSW staff have curated their schedules so you don't have to. From Tech & Startups to Health & Wellness and beyond, our staff picks below have got you covered.

Best part? Click on our schedules and you can start favoriting events to add to your own. See you at SX!

Brandon Sammons

VP of Software | Tech & Startup Schedule

What I Do
I create things at the intersection of design and engineering. As a full-stack engineer and manager, my team and I leverage modern web best practices, strategic integrations & partners, and AI-driven workflows to bridge the gap between complex systems and delightful user experiences.

What I'm Looking for at SXSW
If the last few years have been AI hype and flashbang demos, this year feels like the turning point into real results and game-changing integrations at scale. On the lookout for global talent, multimodal products and tools and venture attendees who know exactly what they’re backing in the next 12 months.

Brandon's Schedule

Melissa Tung

Sr. PM | Project Manager Schedule

What I Do
I started off my career in the public sector with a Master of Public Health. I worked at my local and state health department with the goal of improving health outcomes for my community. During Covid, I actually pivoted into tech and have spent the last three years growing into my Senior Product Manager role at SXSW. I manage the full product lifecycle for specific tech products, such as our shopping cart.

What I'm Looking for at SXSW
The means to entry have never been lower and the competition has never been higher. Standing out in a crowd where capital is harder to come by and relationships matter, networking and leveling up are crucial to being in the next wave of success stories.

Melissa's Schedule

Katy Kavanaugh

VP of Finance & Accounting | Fintech & Finance Schedule

What I Do
I’ve spent my career watching finance evolve from traditional systems into something faster, more digital, and more interconnected. Along the way, I’ve worked closely with emerging areas like crypto, real‑time payments, fraud prevention, and AI‑driven analytics, helping teams adapt to a rapidly changing financial landscape.

What I'm Looking for at SXSW
Crypto, real-time payments, fraud detection, dynamic pricing and innovative creditors will shape the next gen of commerce. While it's entertaining to break down all the changes into old guard vs new guard, there’s no doubt about a fundamental shift. I'm looking for sessions and learnings that translate into real‑world business decisions.

Katy's Schedule

Patrick Cline

SVP of Event Logistics | Agency Schedule

What I Do
I managed a multi-platinum artist where I led shows and events across 46 countries and all 50 states, including arenas, festivals, and stadiums - it was fascinating to see how events take shape differently in various regions of the globe. From there I launched a multi-city experiential event property with over 100,000 ticketed attendees annually, attracting brand partnerships including Olipop, Hinge Co, Abercrombie & Fitch, One Medical, & Bacardi.

What I'm Looking for at SXSW
Expectations are incredibly high in person, and executing IRL is a keystone to any successful brand in 2026. Retail environments will start to mimic events, and events will create depth even in the most ephemeral moment (think: niche communities gathering, participatory activations, and even analog concepts). Cost is a real challenge, so spreading yourself thin when scale is expected continues to be a creative constraint.

Patrick's Schedule

Nicole Krause

Sr. Director of Marketing | Brand-side Schedule

What I Do
Immersed in the entertainment industry early on in Los Angeles, I started in fashion, drawn to the brand and marketing side before stepping into music marketing at a small agency. My work has since expanded across education, media, music, film, and tech, driven by curiosity around community, storytelling, culture, and the human side of marketing.

What I'm Looking for at SXSW
The vibe shift in 2026 is not just building fandoms, but friendships with your audience. Creators in-house act as your community anchors. This two-way street means everything from atomizing your sales team like L'Oréal’s Brazilian beauty consultants on Whatsapp to brands defining their narratives and content ecosystem alongside R&D - well ahead of product launch. I'm focused on inspiration and matching those opportunities to business models to generate real growth.

Nicole's Schedule

Neil Minocha

VP of Partnerships | Health & Wellness Schedule

What I Do
After 8 years in software sales, I joined SXSW in 2015 to oversee sales initiatives for SXSW Eco, social impact, sports, and international partnerships. I work with global brands at the intersection of culture, innovation, and well-being. Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand how performance, creativity, and resilience are deeply connected to health and wellness, both at an individual and organizational level. It’s a holistic approach - healthy teams equals sustainable growth.

What I'm Looking for at SXSW
Whether it’s A.I. diagnostics, influencers crafting peptide stacks, advanced nanorobotics, psychedelics going mainstream, or quantum computing in health systems - health in 2026 is moving fast and in many directions. This schedule reflects my anchor point, “live forever” and moves out in concentric circles from there.

Neil's Schedule

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