SXSW 2026 Cuts Music Weekend, Reduces Festival Length

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival will undergo significant changes for its 2026 edition, with organizers cutting the event by two days and eliminating the traditional dedicated music weekend. This decision, which reflects a decline in music participation from a peak of around 2,000 bands in the 2010s to just over 1,000 this year, marks a historic shift for the festival. The film and television portions of SXSW have gained prominence, attracting high-profile figures and audiences, while the music segment struggles to draw crowds. In response to this transformation, SXSW is offering substantial early bird discounts on badges, with prices significantly slashed. The festival will take place from March 12 to 18, 2026, and aims to reinvent its format with industry-specific hubs during the convention center's construction. This shift raises questions about the future role of music within a festival that increasingly prioritizes film and television.