Music Festival & Conference march 12–18, 2026

The SXSW Music Festival & Conference brings together artists, industry professionals, creatives, and music lovers from around the world to make connections, elevate their careers, and celebrate the magic of live music – from legendary performers to the most exciting new talent.

New, developing, and established artists enhance their careers by showcasing to the global music industry at the SXSW Music Festival & Conference each year. Showcases are curated by South By Southwest® in collaboration with record labels, booking agencies, management and PR firms, international export offices, music festivals, media outlets, industry trade organizations, lifestyle brands, and more.

The latest SXSW Music Festival & Conference announcement was pretty epic, if we say so ourselves. South by Southwest just announced over 300 new Showcasing Artists have been invited to perform during the historic 40th year of the SXSW Music Festival running from March 12 to March 18. In addition, new SXSW Music Conference programming and artist workshops were also announced.

The latest wave of Showcasing Artists includes Deloyd Elze, an up-and-coming artist combining traditional American songwriting with experimental and electronic textures. DJ AG joins the lineup representing the cutting edge of global pop and contemporary electronic music. Hannah Cohen brings her soothing sounds and cathartic vocals. Chilean singer-songwriter Javiera Electra blends art-pop and experimental folk. MARCO PLUS brings his dynamic flow and sharp lyricism to Austin from hip-hop mecca Atlanta, Georgia. Oscar Ortiz gives a modern spin on classic themes blending cumbia norteño, corridos, and Latin pop. TTSSFU is stepping into the spotlight with her addictive combo of dreamy guitars and hazy vocals. Electronic alt-pop artist Sassy 009 will immerse the SXSW audience with a dreamy, euphoric sound all their own. The legendary 8-piece punk band Gogol Bordello is also joining this year’s lineup.

Previously announced artists Lola Young, BigXThaPlug and Fuerza Regida will be performing at Rolling Stone’s Future of Music showcase.

SXSW Music Showcase Presenters

Also, highlights from our most recent announcement of SXSW Music Showcase Presenters include Anniversary Group, Beer n Tacos, Big Loud, Fire Records, M for Montreal, PlantWave, and rocknite.

For the full list of Showcase Presenters announced so far, check out the schedule.

For the full list of Showcasing Artists announced to date, go here and start planning.

Historically, the Music Festival & Conference tends to be one the most unpredictable and exhilarating components of SXSW. With hundreds of artists descending into downtown Austin, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are a few key dates to help keep your head on straight.

• February 6, 2026: Prices for Platinum and Music Badges increase.
• March 6, 2026: Final price increase for Platinum and Music Badges.
• February 26, 2026 - 2nd Reservations Window opens at 9am Central. Platinum and Music badgeholders can reserve Sessions, Screenings and Music Showcases.

Exciting new conversations and events are set to rock the stage at SXSW this year. The latest Music Conference programming has been announced, including:

Moving Culture: Music Brand Campaigns with an Eye for Equity—Vatana Shaw, Music Brand Partnerships Agent at United Talent Agency, curates deals that are equally impactful to artists as they are to the broader social ecosystem, striking a balance to ensure artist contentment, impactful authenticity, and relevant representation. In this session, Shaw draws from her dealmaking experience to discuss the ever-evolving new music economy and the strategy behind identifying equitable opportunities for artists at all stages in their career.

Customize Your Artist Marketing Rollout—Drew de Leon, a 15-year music industry veteran, leads a presentation dedicated to customizing your 2026 digital marketing rollout. This session will cover key areas such as artist branding, defining your fans, building your community, developing a consistent content strategy, and mapping out a release plan to set your music catalog up for long-term success.

Unlocking Africa: Real Partnerships and Real Results—This session explores the strategic roadmap for breaking artists across Africa’s dynamic music market by navigating fragmented streaming platforms, hyper-local radio, and fan communities. Speakers Damilola Akinwunmi (Founder/CEO, Dapper Music), Nicole Thomas (Co-Country Manager, Virgin Music Group South Africa), Kay Ikazoboh (Head of Nigeria, Virgin Music Group), and Dominique Wright (Director, SpinLab Communications) provide a real-world case study on turning regional buzz into international momentum.

To see the full list of conference sessions and workshops announced, visit the SXSW schedule and start exploring.

If you haven’t grabbed one already, purchase a Music Badge or Music Wristband.

As the SXSW Music Festival & Conference’s official Clubhouse location, the Downright Austin Hotel will serve as the epicenter for all things noteworthy during the festival. Settle in for live performances, demo listening sessions, mentoring events and roundtable discussions. It’s also the perfect spot to access most of our music venues by foot or a quick rideshare.

Music Clubhouse Dates & Hours: 3/13 – 3/18, 12pm – 8pm