No, SXSW Isn’t Getting Rid of Music

South by Southwest may have begun as an independent music festival, but in the past few years, movies and tech have definitively overtaken the convention’s original focus. But, contrary to reports, SXSW won’t be cutting music entirely from its schedule. The Austin festival is paring back its schedule for 2026, from nine days to seven. (It will run March 12 to 18.) This means there won’t be a dedicated music weekend that used to close the festival. But, a spokesperson confirmed to the Austin American-Statesman that music events “will take place throughout the entire event.” 2026 festival passes are currently on saleincluding a music option.

That’s not to say SXSW’s music arm is in a good spot going into 2026. The Statesman noted that the 2025 festival featured 1,015 acts — down from around 1,200 in 2024 and 2,000-plus at the mid-2010s peak. And this year’s flagship showcases reportedly failed to sell out. Per the Statesmanthe festival used free RSVPs to fill showcases by artists like ascendant pop star Benson Boone, while other artists like country breakout Megan Moroney couldn’t even sell out the 2,750-capacity ACL Live with those free passes. This also comes after more than 60 artists dropped out of the 2024 festival over its ties to the military-industrial complex. The 2025 festival cut ties with the U.S. Army and defense contractors.