SXSW Music Faces Major Shakeup as Event Shortens Schedule and Artist Participation Declines
South By Southwest (SXSW), once a staple of the Austin music scene, is now facing a significant shift in its programming for 2026. After decades of expansion beyond its music roots, SXSW is reportedly scaling back the music portion of the event, potentially signaling the end of its iconic music showcase.
Originally launched in the 1980s as a music-focused event, SXSW grew into a multi-disciplinary conference that now includes tech, film, comedy, and more. However, over the years, the music segment began to feel overshadowed by the event’s broader cultural focus. Now, as SXSW heads into 2026, significant changes are on the horizon. The Austin American-Statesman reports that the event will shorten its schedule, running from Thursday, March 12, to Wednesday, March 18, effectively cutting out the final weekend of programming — traditionally the highlight of SXSW’s music offerings.
Despite this schedule change, SXSW is still offering a Music badge among its 2026 purchase options, leaving open the possibility that the music portion may not disappear entirely. The future of SXSW Music, however, remains uncertain as the festival grapples with a marked decline in artist participation.
The music portion of SXSW has seen a dramatic drop in involvement over the years, with the number of participating acts falling from around 2,000 during the event’s peak in the 2010s to just over 1,000 in 2024. This drop in participation has been compounded by a decrease in attendance at music events. The American-Statesman highlights the empty streets of Austin’s 6th Street during this year’s festival, once a bustling epicenter of activity, now largely quiet during the event.
The shift in interest is reflected in the changing dynamics of the festival. Several high-profile bands, including Benson Boone and Band Of Horses, struggled to fill venues, with reports indicating that even with free public RSVPs, crowd turnout remained sparse. At the ACL Live venue, artists like Megan Moroney and Ivan Cornejo couldn’t generate full houses, signaling a broader disconnect between SXSW’s music programming and its audience.
While the music scene is reportedly in decline, other sectors of SXSW are thriving, particularly the Film and Television Festival. In recent years, the event’s film offerings have seen a surge in popularity, drawing large crowds to premieres and celebrity appearances. Notable events included Michelle Obama’s appearance alongside her brother Craig Robinson, film screenings with stars like Nicole Kidman and Seth Rogen, and a highly anticipated visit from the Criterion Closet.
As SXSW looks toward 2026, the event’s shift in focus seems inevitable, but its impact on the music industry’s future in Austin remains to be seen. Whether SXSW’s music programming will continue to hold a place in the sprawling festival or eventually fade into the background as a relic of its past is uncertain. What’s clear is that SXSW’s identity — and its place in the cultural zeitgeist — is evolving, and the music industry may be at the center of that change.
UPDATE: In response to reports that SXSW Music is over, a representative for SXSW writes on X, “We’re actually programming music across all the SXSW dates next year so it’s gonna be even bigger.”
Fake news and extremely irresponsible “reporting”
— B. Hobbs (@BdotHobbs) March 17, 2025
We’re actually programming music across all the SXSW dates next year so it’s gonna be even bigger. No idea who would green light this but yall should be embarrassed https://t.co/heuCCsY96t
