SXSW Accessibility Commitment Statement

Everyone is welcome at SXSW. We strive to make our conferences and festivals accessible to the largest number of people possible and are always looking at ways to remove barriers.

If you have accessibility requests or requirements that are not covered on this page, please contact accessibility@sxsw.com so we can work together to find an accommodation.

To read the full page, feel free to skip past the links below. If you'd like to go directly to a specific section, use the links to skip to the information you're looking for.

Contact Us | Accommodation Request | Accessibility Designation | Companion Wristband | Events With Added Accessibility | Captioning & ASL Interpreting | Accessibility/ASL Entry & Seating | Audio Description | Accessible Housing | Service Animals | Sensory Information | Transportation & Parking | Mobility Devices

Contact SXSW Accessibility

• Email: accessibility@sxsw.com
• Phone: 512-467-7979 (Call/Text)

Please fill out our Accessibility Accommodation Form to submit your request to the SXSW Accessibility Team.

Accessibility Accommodation Form

The deadline for submitting accommodation requests for SXSW 2026 is February 26, 2026. We will do our best to honor requests after the deadline, however, services cannot be guaranteed.

An Accessibility Designated SXSW Badge will provide badgeholders access to reserved accessibility features such as designated seating, use of the accessibility shuttle, and the ability to request a Companion Wristband.

To request Accessibility Designated be added to your SXSW badge, please email reg@sxsw.com. Though we can add this for attendees onsite, it makes the process much faster if it has already been added.

All registrants must pick up their own credentials by showing their government-issued photo ID at Registration.

SXSW doesn’t offer personal assistance like one-on-one interpreters, aides, or guides. If attendees need to use this type of service during the event, a Companion Wristband can be requested. This wristband allows attendees to bring the person of their choice to provide these services without them needing to purchase an additional badge.

The Companion Wristband is linked to the requesting attendees badge and only allows the companion entry to events when they are together. The wristband will not grant access to any SXSW events.

Companions that have an additional credential of their own are still encouraged to get a wristband from us to ensure they are not separated from the Accessibility Designated attendee they are assisting while taking the accessibility shuttle or using accessibility reserved seating.

Companion Wristbands can be picked up at the Accessibility Help Desk inside of the Registration rooms. Both the badge holder and the companion must be present and have proper identification at the time of pick up.

Please contact accessibility@sxsw.com for more information about Companion Wristbands.

Finding Added Accessibility Features

Finding Added Accessibility Features: The SXSW schedule has an Accessibility Filter to help attendees find the events that have the features they are looking for.

Below, you'll find descriptions of each accessibility feature based on the type of event.

Note: Many events have multiple accessibility features.

Accessible Conference Sessions

• Open Captioning (OC): Live Open Captioning available on a screen at the front of Keynote & Featured speaker sessions.
• Closed Captioning (CC): Live Closed Captioning available on attendees personal device.
• American Sign Language (ASL): American Sign Language interpretation for the audience. Interpreters are placed in front of the ASL/Accessibility reserved seating area.

Accessible Film & TV Screenings

• Closed Captioning (CC): Text display of dialogue and sound effects that can be turned on or off using a captioning device. Closed Captions are available for all Film & TV Screenings. We provide these devices at screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. While you can request a device on-site, we recommend filling out the Accessibility Accommodations Form in advance to ensure availability and a smoother experience.
• Open Captioning (OC): Text display of dialogue and sound effects shown directly on the screen for all viewers.
• Subtitles: Written translation of dialogue displayed on screen, typically used for films in languages other than English. Unlike captions, subtitles don't include sound effect descriptions or speaker identification.
• Audio Description (AD): A separate audio track that describes visual elements of the film, including actions, characters, scene changes, and on-screen text, for blind and low-vision viewers. While you can request a device on-site, we recommend filling out the Accessibility Accommodations Form in advance to ensure availability and a smoother experience.
• American Sign Language (ASL): Live ASL interpretation is provided for introductions, Q&As, and panel discussions at select screenings.
• Captioned Q&A: Live captioning offered during introductions and post-screening Q&As at the Paramount Theater and The ZACH Theater. Captions for post-screening Q&A’s are available via the patron's personal device.

Accessible Music Showcases

• American Sign Language (ASL): Live ASL interpretation/performance for audience.
• High Sensory Experience: Though SXSW itself is a high sensory experience, events across the festival we expect to have more sensory stimulation than attendees may anticipate are marked “High Sensory Experience” on our schedule.

ASL Interpreting

SXSW provides ASL Interpreters automatically for many of our large events and by attendee/presenter request. To view which conference sessions have already been assigned ASL interpreters, select the American Sign Language option under the Accessibility filter on our web or SXSW GO schedule.

SXSW does not provide 1:1 ASL Interpreters to accompany individuals throughout the festival. If youwould like to bring your own interpreter, check out our Companion Wristband option above.

The deadline for requests for ASL interpreters is February 26, 2026 but we prefer them as soon as possible so we can assure the best quality. These can be submitted to accessibility@sxsw.com. If there are last minute requests for ASL interpreters, please contact accessibility@sxsw.com . Though we cannot guarantee our ability to add interpreters after the deadline, we would love to try.

Conference Captioning

We offer a mixture of open and closed captioning throughout our conference sessions. Captions are added automatically to most sessions. To view which conference sessions have been scheduled to provide captioning, select the captioning options under the Accessibility filter on our web or SXSW GO schedule.

Closed captions are accessed from the user's personal device via QR code available in the room. There will also be a link to the closed captioning on this page throughout the festival.

The deadline to request additional captioned events is February 26, 2026. These can be submitted to accessibility@sxsw.com. If there are last minute requests for captioning that is not already provided, please contact accessibility@sxsw.com. Though we cannot guarantee our ability to add captioning after the deadline, we would love to try.

Film & TV Screening Captioning

Upon arrival, we encourage attendees that will require a captioning device to let a SXSW team member know. Though we do not require it, we encourage those who have a schedule of films they plan to see with a captioning device to send their schedule to accessibility@sxsw.com so we can have them ready for you.

Screenings that provide Open Captioning will show the captioning on the screen without a device needed. The type of captioning available for each screening will be listed in the schedule and can be accessed with the Accessibility filter on the schedule.

Screenings at the Paramount Theater and The ZACH that are followed by a Q&A include live captioning accessed on the viewer’s personal device. Captions for additional post-screening Q&A’s are available by request until February 26, 2026. Questions about the accessibility of specific screening can be sent to accessibility@sxsw.com.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with PTSD, dementia, autism, and other similar conditions (1 in 4 individuals). One of the significant barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise, which is an enormous part of this environment.

Sensory items such as fidgets, ear plugs, and KultureCity Sensory Bags are available at the Accessibility Help Desks located in all Registration Rooms and in our Sensory Room.

Sensory Rooms

Kulture City Sensory Room Room 308 in the JW Marriott 10:00am - 5:00pm

High Sensory Experience

Though SXSW itself is a high sensory experience, events across the festival we expect to have more sensory stimulation than attendees may anticipate are marked “High Sensory Experience” on our schedule. Examples of this are conference sessions that include an unexpected light show, performances or social events that tend to be crowded and loud by design, and busy film premieres that often have unexpected exciting entrances.

High Sensory Experience Schedule

If you have questions or concerns about any events' content or sensory experience, contact [accessibility@sxsw.com](mailto:accessibility@sxsw.com.

Transportation

Austin, in general, is accessible. Be aware that there are some places throughout the City that are historic, or dated and could pose challenges for some who have a disability. Please reach out to accessibility@sxsw.com for questions about specific establishments or areas.

Our advice to attendees is to utilize public transportation, rideshare, or taxi service when available. All public transportation methods have an accessible option.

Shuttle Services

New for 2026, we will now have TWO on demand Accessibility shuttles equipped with mobility lifts. These shuttles are available on demand for registrants with an accessibility credential and their companion. These shuttles service every stop on the route, but do not deviate from any of the regular stops/routes. The phone number, a link to the shuttle map, and a link to the shuttle tracker will be listed here throughout the festival.

Parking

Drivers who have a government-issued disabled hang tag or license plate may use street metered parking free of charge. Private parking lots and garages may have different rules and regulations. Attendees with Accessibility Designation may park near any of the SXSW Shuttle Stops and request the Accessibility Shuttle.