Saying SXSW’s 40th anniversary will be busy is an understatement—and that’s true whether you’re locking in for the SXSW Innovation Conference or flashing your Platinum Badge to access every experience. Creating a virtual toolkit is the ultimate way to ensure you make the most of your SXSW experience from day one. 

We’ve rounded up seven essential apps that will power you through a week of events and take care of your needs so you can focus on the panels, workshops, and other exciting events. From weather scouts and bathroom search tools to services that have food and travel essentials covered, download these apps and you’ll have everything you need right in your pocket for an epic week of best-in-class experiences. 

When You Need to Get Organized on the Ground: SXSW GO Official App for iOS and Android

Shameless plug. SXSW GO is the essential app to curate your experience and plan your schedule to ensure that you squeeze the most out of every minute of the festival once your boots hit the pavement. Scroll through the schedule, favorite events and sessions, and reserve your spot to select conference sessions, Film & TV festival screenings, Music Festival showcases, and Comedy festival showcases. Providing live updates throughout the week, you’ll be able to see how long the line is at each event across Film & TV, Music, Innovation and Comedy in real time. Green means go, Yellow means hurry, Red means cross your fingers!

When You Need to Check the Weather: National Weather Service and other local resources

From planning outfits to strategizing how to dodge raindrops, a weather app is a must have in your SXSW arsenal. While March typically shepherds in mild temperatures across Texas, Austin’s weather can be unpredictable. You never know when a gust of strong winds or a storm will throw a wrench in your plans. That’s where the National Weather Service and other local resources are paramount. Download the app for weather reports refreshed multiple times per hour and high-resolution radar for minute-by-minute weather status. Or simply navigate to Troy Kimmel Weather, a daily report built by the beloved local meteorologist. While you’re in town, it’s also recommended to sign up for emergency notifications for Travis County from Warn Central Texas or follow Austin Emergency Management on social media for timely updates.

When You’re Craving a Grocery Run: Farmhouse Delivery

Traveling to a new city for an event like SXSW can mean a whole lot of restaurant meals and hotel room service, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re craving the sense of normalcy that comes with a grocery run, download Farmhouse Delivery. The Austin-founded company works with hyper-local farmers and other food and drink vendors to deliver the freshest produce, dairy products, meat and seafood, and other grocery store staples to your door—even if that door is just your temporary SXSW home. Pantry staples and prepared foods will likely come in handy. So try Fronks’ slate of nut milk in your morning coffee paired with Mother Culture yogurt or order Texas-born snacks like Shar Snacks trail mix and AustiNuts dried fruit to power you through the packed lineup of panels, concerts, and more during SXSW.

When You Want Late-Night Food Delivered Right to Your Hotel Room: Favor

If your stomach is growling after a long day in Downtown Austin, you could fire up whatever delivery app is already downloaded to your phone. But there’s also an only-in-Texas delivery system that will have your late-night bites delivered fast. Powered by H-E-B (a.k.a. Texans favorite grocery store), Favor is a contactless food delivery service where you can place orders via their app. The brand touts being “proudly unavailable in 49 states” and honors its roots by delivering every order with a dose of that signature, warm Texas hospitality. Whether you’re craving a burger from the beloved local joint Dan’s Hamburgers or want to try local award-winning restaurants like KG BBQ or Cuantos Tacos, you’ll find whatever you’re craving, day or night, on Favor.

When You Need to Get Around, Austin-Style: Waymo

If you’re visiting from further afield, you may not have experienced the driverless ride service Waymo. If that’s the case, SXSW is the perfect time to try it for yourself. The company uses its innovative spirit (hello, Innovation Conference badgeholders) to bring fully autonomous cars to the road. During your trip to Austin, Waymo is easy to access because it’s integrated directly into the Uber app. So simply open Uber on your phone, set your preferences to allow rides from Waymo vehicles, and hop in and buckle up for your trip once your car arrives. The service is currently only available in five cities, including Austin, so use SXSW as an opportunity to step into the future of ridesharing.

When You Need to Find a Restroom in Downtown Austin: Flush

There’s one unavoidable truth about a busy event like SXSW: Between taking in cutting-edge technology demonstrations and groundbreaking films or musical performances, you’re going to need a bathroom break. You may encounter long lines at times or plan a schedule so packed that you only have a few minutes to pop in the restroom before heading to the next venue. While restrooms will be available on site (and clearly marked with signage) at all of the venues around Austin hosting SXSW programming, a bathroom locator can help you find the closest option even beyond event locations. Download Flush for a full rundown that will help you find the cleanest, most convenient place to use the restroom no matter where you are in the city.

When You Want to Get Away From It All: Texas State Parks App

After a week of stimulating discussion and top-notch entertainment, you might be ready for a break. Tack on a couple extra days in Austin after SXSW or get to town a bit early so you can explore all the stunning nature that this part of Central Texas has to offer. Many of the area’s popular state parks—from the flowing waters of McKinney Falls State Park to the wooded hiking trails of Bastrop State Park—require advanced registration. But the Texas State Parks App offers an easy way to book from your phone, plus detailed park maps and virtual tours to help you get around.

We can’t wait to see you in Austin this March! In the meantime, plan your schedule and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Bluesky to learn about the latest announcements.