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SXSW 2026 will be shorter with a streamlined music festival

The festival of arts, culture, and learning will look different next year as it undergoes displacement from the Austin Convention Center.

A large, curved SXSW display inside a convention center, decorated with colorful illustrations of a mirror, abstract shapes, and musical notes. The sign includes "SXSW EDU" in bold letters. Attendees walk around, some carrying bags or backpacks. An escalator in the background leads to an upper level, and large windows reveal the cityscape and food trucks outside.

SXSW 2026 badges will be deeply discounted through the rest of the month.

Photo by ATXtoday

SXSW will look a lot different in 2026, and not just because the new Austin Convention Center will be under construction.

The 40th-anniversary fest will be just seven days long, which is two days shorter than typical, while the music festival portion will be one day longer and run concurrently with the rest of the tracks. The fest will take place Thursday, March 12 through Wednesday, March 18.

SXSW 2026 badge holders will also have access to all programming pertaining to their badge type, including keynotes, expos, lounges, and activations.

Organizers said they will use the time that the festival will be displaced from the convention center to “reinvent spaces for our community by creating industry-specific hubs to enable new ways to connect.”

From now until Monday, March 31, tickets on presale will be available at deep discounts, starting at $475.