Your Ultimate SXSW 2024 Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know

SXSW is getting ready to blow your mind, and we’re here to make sure you’re ready for the ride! From must-see events to insider tips, we’ve got all the juicy details to make sure you have the time of your life at this year’s festival. Let’s dive in!

South by Southwest runs from March 8-16 and takes place mostly in downtown Austin. With venues scattered throughout the city, including the Austin Convention Center, Palmer Events Center, and iconic venues like the Paramount Theatre and Auditorium Shores.

You should expect to see celebrities ranging from Hollywood stars like Ryan Gosling and Jake Gyllenhaal to comedy legends Trevor Noah and Samantha Bee. Other notable panelists include Austin-based drag queen Brigitter Bandit, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, and “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper.

This year’s music festival is headlined by the Black Keys, who will perform at Stubb’s and the Mohawk. Peso Pluma, Teezo Touchdown and Flo Milli are other big names who will play at the festival.

But SXSW is also about movies, so you can catch some of the biggest premieres of the year! From star-studded movies like “Roadhouse” and “Fall Guy” to must-see TV shows like “Hacks,” you’ll have plenty of options to immerse yourself in.

There are also plenty of tech-related things to do, with a variety of conferences on AI featuring OpenAI’s ChatGPT head Peter Deng and other industry leaders such as AMD CEO Lisa Su and Twitch CEO Dan Clancy.

You can attend free public events such as a celebration with Bob Schneider and Joe “King” Carrasco, but most events require you to purchase a badge or wristband. If you are a local, you can get secondary access to festival events with wristbands or full access with badges.

If you have more questions, check out the original Austin-American Statesman guide to SXSW!