To submit an Accessibility Accommodation requisition for the SXSW 2025 event, please fill out this form or reach out to the Accessibility Team directly at accessibility@sxsw.com.

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All requests made before February 19, 2025 will be honored. We will do our best to honor requests made after this date but they cannot be guaranteed.

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 that is programming your event. You will be provided a form to request ADA accommodations needed for your event and connected with the Accessibility Team.

An Accessibility Designated SXSW Badge will provide attendees with accessibility needs access to designated seating, use of the ADA Entrance and the ADA shuttle.To request an Accessibility Designated SXSW Badge, please email reg@sxsw.com or request one while picking up your badge onsite. Though you can request this addition on site, your experience will be much quicker if it is added before your arrival.

All registrants attending the in-person event must pick up their own credentials by showing their government-issued photo ID at Registration in the Austin Convention Center.

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 accommodations to accompany them without the purchase of an additional badge.

Companion Wristbands can be picked up at the Accessibility Desk in Registration (Exhibit Hall 1 at the Austin Convention Center & Moontower Hall in the Marriott Downtown) during badge pickup. 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.

SXSW provides ASL Interpreters for all Keynote Speaker sessions, select Featured Speaker sessions, and all headliner film/tv post-film Q&A’s. Additional events may be added by request or event topic. Events that have ASL interpreting scheduled can be found in the online and SXSW GO App using the “Accessibility” filter.

To request ASL interpreters for a SXSW event, fill out this Accessibility Accommodations Form. All requests made before February 19, 2025 will be honored. We will do our best to honor requests made after this date but they cannot be guaranteed.

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.

Conference Captioning

All Keynote Speaker and Featured Speaker sessions provide open captioning on the screens at the front of the room. You are also able to view these captions on your personal device via link in the SXSW Online schedule. Closed captioning is also available for additional sessions by request or added due to the conference topic. All conference closed captioning is accessed from the viewers personal device (phone, iPad, laptop) via online link in the SXSW Online Schedule. Contact accessibility@sxsw.com if you are having trouble accessing your closed captioning link. To request closed captions for a SXSW session, fill out the Accessibility Accommodations Form.

All requests made before February 19, 2025 will be honored. We will do our best to honor requests made after this date but they cannot be guaranteed.

Film Captioning

Closed Captions are available for all film screenings. Closed captioning equipment is limited and is first come first serve. Though you are welcome to request your captioning device on site, if you let us know you’ll be using one in advance we can plan to make your experience smoother. If you plan to use a closed captioning device at a screening, please fill out the Accessibility Accommodations Form. Open Captioning will also be available for select screenings. These will be listed on the film schedule as they become available. Check the Accessibility filter in the SXSW GO App or SXSW online schedule to see which screenings have the features you’re looking for

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

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.

If you have secondary access to a conference session, 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.

Film 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

Seating in Music/Comedy Performance venues varies. If you would like to know about the seating for a specific performance venue, you can contact them directly or contact us at accessibility@sxsw.com. We recommend that those with Accessibility Designation who have a specific seating request arrive early and use ADA priority entry. If you have secondary access or the venue has issued a “1-in-1-out” rule due to current capacity, you may be asked to wait until they are sure there will be space available. If you need a seat while you wait, please ask.

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

Film Audio Description

Audio description will be available for select films. These will be listed on the film schedule as they become available. To access these quickly, use the Accessibility filter on the schedule in the SXSW GO App and online.

Audio Description equipment is limited and is first come first serve. Though you can request a device on site, letting us know ahead of time helps us make your experience smoother. If you plan to use an audio description device at a screening, please fill out the Accessibility Accommodations Form.

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

SXSW allows ADA-recognized service animals trained specifically to assist a person with disabilities at all events. Service animals are defined as animals 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 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.

Sensory items such as fidgets, ear plugs, and more will be available at the Accessibility Help Desks and Sensory Rooms.

Visit our KultureCity Sensory Rooms!

Hilton Sensory Room

• Room 415B in the Hilton Hotel, March 6-14, 10:00am-5:00pm

JW Sensory Room

• Room 207 in the JW Marriott, March 6-11, 10:00am-5:00pm

Film

Screenings with strobe effects will be marked in the schedule. If you have questions or concerns about the content or sensory experience of any screenings, contact 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

To request the ADA Shuttle, patrons with Accessibility Designation will call or text (512) 893-2302‬. When they contact this number and request the ADA Shuttle, they will be asked which stop they will need to be picked up from and given a wait estimate. When they arrive, they will be asked which stop they would like to be driven to. The ADA Shuttle travels the same route as the typical shuttles and does not make stops that are not official SXSW Shuttle Stops.

Parking

If you have a government issued accessibility hang tag or license plate, metered street parking is free of charge. Private parking lots and garages may have different rules and regulations.

If you park near any of the SXSW Shuttle Stops during operating shuttle hours you will be able to request the Accessibility Shuttle to bring you to your desired shuttle stop nearest to your destination.

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. 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.