Austin, Texas, United States
SXSW (South by Southwest)
Tech conference, film festival, and a thousand-band music marathon, all crammed into downtown Austin for one loud week.
The straight answer
SXSW takes over downtown Austin for about a week in mid March every year, and hotels book out so early that planning should start the autumn before.
SXSW runs for about a week in mid March, and it is really three events wearing one lanyard: a conference about technology, media, and culture; a film and TV festival with serious premieres; and a music festival that fills nearly every bar, church, patio, and parking lot in central Austin with showcases from early afternoon to 2am. It started in 1987 as a regional music gathering and grew into the biggest week on the Austin calendar.
The key thing to understand is that there are two SXSWs. The official one runs on badges and wristbands and gives you sessions, screenings, and priority entry to showcases. The unofficial one is a sprawl of free day parties, brand activations, and RSVP-only shows along Sixth Street, Rainey Street, Red River, and East Austin, and plenty of people have a great week without ever buying a badge.
One recent change matters for planning: the Austin Convention Center, long the event's hub, is closed for a multi-year teardown and rebuild through the late 2020s. Sessions and registration have been spread across downtown hotels and venues, and the festival has tightened its schedule to match, so check the current venue map and dates before you book anything walkable.
The event, explained
The conference side is hundreds of talks, panels, and meetups on tech, AI, media, marketing, health, and culture, with big-name keynotes that draw lines around the block. The film and TV festival premieres studio features, documentaries, and series, and it has a real track record of launching indie films into wider release. The music festival brings in acts from dozens of countries, from unsigned bands to surprise sets by headliners.
Badges are the key to the official program and come in tiers by track, with the top tier covering everything; prices run from several hundred dollars to well over a thousand, cheaper the earlier you buy. Music wristbands and single-event admission exist for some shows, but badge holders get in first, and popular showcases fill fast.
The streets are the other half. Brands rent entire bars and turn them into free lounges, labels and blogs throw day parties with stacked lineups, food trucks cluster in every lot, and Sixth Street closes to cars at night and becomes a slow river of people. It is exhausting, overstimulating, and very Austin.
How to play it right
- 01Book lodging the autumn before, or earlier. Downtown hotels sell out months ahead at steeply inflated rates, and many require multi-night minimums. East Austin, South Congress, and the Domain area are workable bases, and short-term rentals fill quickly too.
- 02Decide whether you need a badge. If you want keynotes, screenings, and guaranteed entry, buy early for the lowest tier price. If you mainly want music and atmosphere, skip the badge and build a week of free RSVP day parties; the lists circulate online in the weeks before.
- 03Check the current schedule for the days that fit your interest. The festival now runs its conference, film, and music programs side by side over one condensed week, so the busiest nights shift with the lineup. Weekend evenings are the most crowded on Sixth Street and Rainey Street.
- 04Plan transport around gridlock. Downtown streets close, ride-share surge pricing is brutal at 2am, and parking is scarce and expensive. Walking, bikeshare, scooters, and Capital Metro rail and buses beat cars nearly every time.
- 05Pack for real March weather: highs near 72F (22C) most days, but cold fronts can drop nights into the 40s F (around 7C) and spring storms can soak outdoor stages. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you bring.
- 06Expect Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to be crowded on the first and last days of the festival; allow extra time for security on departure day.
With kids in tow
- SXSW is built for adults: late nights, bar venues, and most showcases are 21 and up. Some daytime sessions, film screenings, and outdoor events are all ages, but it is not a family festival.
- Families visiting Austin that week for spring break should know hotel prices and downtown crowds are at their annual worst. Lady Bird Lake trails, Zilker Park, and the museums away from downtown are calmer escapes.
- If your kids are older teens with an interest in film, gaming, or tech, the badge-free daytime events and film screenings can be a genuinely memorable trip; check age rules venue by venue.
Book your stay for SXSW (South by Southwest).
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for March
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in SXSW (South by Southwest)Opens a hotel search for SXSW (South by Southwest) in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in SXSW (South by Southwest)Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in SXSW (South by Southwest)Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in SXSW (South by Southwest) for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
SXSW (South by Southwest), quick answers
When is SXSW?
About a week in mid March every year. Exact dates are set by the festival well ahead and usually overlap the spring break of many Texas schools and universities.
Do I need a badge to enjoy SXSW?
No. A badge buys you the official conference, film screenings, and priority entry to showcases, but thousands of visitors spend the week at free day parties and RSVP-only shows. Without a badge, expect lines and occasional turn-aways at the hottest events.
How far ahead should I book a hotel for SXSW?
Five to six months minimum, and the autumn before is safer. Downtown rooms sell out early at several times normal rates, often with multi-night minimums.
Where is SXSW held now that the convention center is closed?
The Austin Convention Center is closed for a multi-year rebuild, so sessions, registration, and exhibitions have been distributed across downtown hotels and venues. Always check the current venue map before choosing where to stay.
What is the weather like in Austin during SXSW?
Usually pleasant, with highs near 72F (22C), but mid March is changeable: a cold front can make nights chilly and thunderstorms can hit outdoor stages. Bring layers and a light rain jacket.
Make a trip of it: Austin
The best time to visit Austin
Best: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
The best time to visit Austin is mid March through May or October through mid November: warm days, cool enough evenings for patios and live music, bluebonnets in spring, and none of the 100F summer grind.
Also in March
Humpback Whale Season in Maui
Maui, Hawaii
Roughly December to April, with the peak from January to March
Holi in India
India nationwide, best known in Mathura, Vrindavan & Jaipur
Late February or March, on the full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna; the date moves with the lunar calendar
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The week before Ash Wednesday, usually in February and sometimes early March; the dates move with Easter
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Fat Tuesday falls in February or early March, moving with Easter; the parade season builds for weeks before, peaking in the final two weekends
Before you book.
Sort these two things first.
Sponsored links. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Visit Faye
Travel insurance.
FayeA missed connection, a bag that never turns up, a hospital abroad: far cheaper to cover before departure than to argue about after.
- Visit Saily
eSIM data.
SailySet up an eSIM before you fly so your phone has data the moment you land, without roaming charges.
Our top-rated travel gear
Whatever you decide, this is the gear we actually travel with: verified, priced, and ranked. Live price check on each.
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.