Accessibility at SXSW

SXSW Accessibility Commitment Statement

At SXSW we strive to make our conference 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 SXSW Accessibility

Email: accessibility@sxsw.com
Phone: 512-467-7979 (Call/Text)
ADA Shuttle Phone: 512-893-2302
Accessibility Help Desk - Austin Convention Center, Trinity Street
9:00am-6:00pm
In Person: Accessibility Desk in the Austin Convention Center during the event. Event days phone number will be added here at a later date.

Accessibility Help Desk Locations and Hours

Trinity Street

Austin Convention Center - Across from Exhibit Hall 3/4 next to the Trinity St. Entrance
March 7-13, 9:00am - 6:00pm

Registration

Austin Convention Center EH1, Exhibit Hall 1
Marriott Downtown, Moontower Hall

Badge Pickup Hours

Accommodation Request

Please fill out our Accessibility Accommodation Form to submit your request to the SXSW Accessibility Team. You must be a registered attendee to make Accessibility Accommodation requests for SXSW 2025.

Submit Form

The deadline for submitting accommodation requests for SXSW 2025 has passed. We will do our best to honor requests after the deadline, however, services cannot be guaranteed. If you are a speaker, artist, filmmaker, or other invited guest of SXSW, please discuss your accommodation needs with the SXSW staff member who is programming your event. You will be provided a form to request ADA accommodations needed for your event and connected with the Accessibility Team.

Accessibility Designation

An Accessibility Designated SXSW Badge will provide attendees with accessibility needs access to designated seating, use of the ADA Entrance and the ADA shuttle. There is no deadline for requesting Accessibility Designation.

To request an Accessibility Designated 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. There is an Accessibility Help Desk inside of the Registration rooms in Austin Convention Center EH1 and Marriott Downtown Moontower Hall to assist those who will be using Accessibility Designation.

Companion Wristband

SXSW does not provide 1:1 interpreters, personal aids, or guides. Attendees who require these — and other accommodations we do not provide during SXSW — can request a Companion Wristband. This will allow them to provide the necessary credentials to accompany them without the purchase of an additional badge.

Companion Wristbands can be picked up at the Accessibility Help Desk inside of the Registration rooms in Austin Convention Center EH1 and Marriott Downtown Moontower Hall while picking the badge holders Accessibility Designated badge. 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.

Events with Added Accessibility Features

Finding Added Accessibility Features

The SXSW schedule has filters to help attendees find the events that have added accessibility features. Select 'Accessibility' from the top of the list of filters. This will show the different accessibility options to choose from. Check the box for the feature needed, and the schedule will update to show only the events that have that available.

Below, you'll find descriptions of each accessibility feature based on the type of event. You can click on the name of any feature to open a pre-filtered schedule with the list of events that include that type of accessibility.

Note: Many events have multiple accessibility features.

Accessible Conference Sessions

Open Captioning (OC): Live Open Captioning available on the screen for all viewers.
Closed Captioning (CC): Live Closed Captioning available on attendees personal device.
American Sign Language (ASL): American Sign Language interpretation for the audience. Placed in front of the ASL/ADA 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: All introductions and Q&As at the Paramount Theatre and the ZACH Theatre will have live captions available via personal device.

Accessible Music Showcases

American Sign Language (ASL): Live ASL interpretation/performance for audience.

Captioning & ASL Interpreting

ASL Interpreting

SXSW provides ASL Interpreters for all keynote sessions, select featured sessions, all community music showcases, all first Film & TV screenings at The Paramount and many additional events.

SXSW does not provide ASL interpreters for expos, parties, sponsor events or personal 1:1 to accompany individuals throughout the festival. If you are attending one of these types of events and would like to bring your own interpreter, contact accessibility@sxsw.com about our Companion Wristband option.

The deadline for requests for ASL interpreters has passed. 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

All Keynote and featured sessions provide open captioning on the screen for all viewers. Closed captioning is also available for additional sessions by request pre-event. If your request has been received and confirmed, closed captioning will be accessible on your personal device (phone, iPad, computer) via the link provided online.

Contact accessibility@sxsw.com. if you are having trouble accessing your closed captioning link.

Film Captioning

All introductions and Q&As at the Paramount Theatre and the ZACH Theatre will have live closed captions available via personal device. A QR code will be provided for attendees to scan to access these captions.

Paramount and ZACH Theatre Screenings

Closed Captions are available for all Film & TV screenings*. Closed captioning equipment is limited and is first come, first served. If you plan to use a closed captioning device at a screening, please complete the Accessibility Accommodation Form.

Closed Caption Film & TV Schedule

Open Captioning will also be available on the screen for all views to access during select screenings.

Open Caption Film & TV Schedule

Additional questions regarding ASL interpreters and captioning can be directed to accessibility@sxsw.com.

*select screenings provide on screen subtitles, not captions. This is reflected in the schedule.

ADA/ASL Entry & Seating

Conference Sessions

Those with Accessibility Designation have the option of using ADA entry and ADA/ASL seating during our event. All designated SXSW accessible seating is based on capacity and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

For large ballrooms, look for a large ADA Entry sign or ask a SXSW volunteer or staff member if you are having trouble locating it. For smaller sessions, you will head straight to the main door and inform them you’re using ADA Entry. If the doors have not opened yet, you will join the Priority Access line.

For smaller sessions, you will head straight to the main door and inform them you’re using ADA Entry. If the doors have not opened yet, they will tell you where to wait. If it is very early and there is not someone at the door yet, you can wait with the Express Pass line until they arrive.

Film & TV Screenings

We recommend that those with Accessibility Designation who have a specific seating request use ADA priority entry so they are able to choose the seat that will work best for them upon entry. Doors open for priority entrance approximately one hour before and are held until approximately 45 minutes before the screening time.

If you have secondary access to a film screening, you may be asked to wait until they are sure there will be room available. If you need a seat while you wait, please ask.

Music/Comedy Performances

We recommend that those with Accessibility Designation who have specific seating needs arrive early so they can enter before the line. Though all performance venues use our Priority entry system, many performance venues have limited seating options.

Additional questions about ADA/ASL entry & seating can be directed to accessibility@sxsw.com.

Audio Description

Film Audio Description

Audio description will be available for select films. Audio Description equipment is limited and is first come first serve. While you can request a device on-site, we recommend filling out the Accessibility Accommodations Form or emailing us at accessibility@sxsw.com in advance to ensure availability and a smoother experience.

List of Audio Described Screenings

We do not provide guides at SXSW. Attendees who would like to bring a guide of their choice are encouraged to do so via our Companion Wristband system.

Contact accessibility@sxsw.com with any questions or concerns.

Accessible Housing

To request an accessible room online with SXSW Housing & Travel, choose your ideal hotel from our list of available hotel rooms and follow the steps to book. When you reach the “special request field” in step 3 of the booking process (where you’ll also enter your payment information), let us know that you require an accessible room and any other additional details about your stay.

We’ll pass this information along to the hotel, so they can accommodate your request. Direct additional accessible housing questions to housing@sxsw.com

Service Animals

SXSW allows ADA-recognized service animals trained specifically to assist a person with disabilities at all events. Service animals are defined as dogs/mini horses that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.

Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and are not permitted at SXSW events.

If you are bringing a service animal, we ask that you register them at the Accessibility Help Desks in Registration when you pick up your credentials. You will receive a SXSW Service Animal tag that signals to all staff and volunteers that this animal is working and you have been in touch with the Accessibility Team.

Sensory Information

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with PTSD, dementia, autism and other similar conditions (1 in 6 individuals). One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over stimulation and noise, which is an enormous part of this environment.

These are the locations of our Mobile Sensory Rooms by KultureCity:

Hilton Sensory Room

Room 415B in the Hilton Hotel, March 3-14, 10:00am-5:00pm

JW Sensory Room

Room 207 in the JW Marriott, March 7-11, 10:00am-5:00pm

Check back for our KultureCity Social Story!

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 Paramount 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.

Transportation and Parking

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

SXSW provides a free registrant shuttle service serving the Austin Convention Center and several of our other venues. There is also a shuttle that has a mobility lift and travels the same route. This shuttle only stops at the official SXSW Shuttle stops but can be requested by those with Accessibility Designation on their badge. Once requested, the requester will be given an estimated wait time and the shuttle will come meet them. The phone number, a link to the shuttle map, and a link to the shuttle tracker are listed below.

ADA Shuttle Phone Number (Call/Text): 512-893-2302

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.

Mobility Devices

At SXSW, wheelchairs and 3- or 4-wheel electric scooters, walkers, canes, and crutches are allowed and are reasonably accommodated. Please know that SXSW does not provide push services for attendees. Attendees who require this service are encouraged to read about our Companion Wristband. For safety reasons, requests to use other power-driven mobility devices will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please email accessibility@sxsw.com.

Charging

Charging outlets will be available at the Accessibility Desk located on the first floor of the Austin Convention Center. Charging is on a first-come, first-served basis and devices must be secured with a lock or other means of securing the device. SXSW cannot be responsible for unattended devices left charging.

Repair/Rental

While visiting SXSW, please feel free to call or visit the Accessibility Desk on the first floor of the Austin Convention Center for a list of local vendors that can assist with rentals or repairs. It is advised to make rental arrangements in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of equipment.

There is no equipment rental of any kind offered by SXSW. Please make your own mobility accommodations, if required. If you need assistance email accessibility@sxsw.com and we will help provide options within the Greater Austin Area

This page is regularly updated as more information becomes available.