Austin, March 7, 2025 – March 15, 2025 — SXSW 2025 was one of the most talked‑about creative events of the year, bringing Austin, Texas to life with bold film premieres, electrifying music, inspiring speakers, unforgettable experiences, and cultural moments that stuck with fans everywhere.
SXSW took place with thousands of creators and attendees flooding the city for a full week of discovery, creativity, networking, and wow‑worthy moments.
Film & TV
Film lovers had a lot to celebrate at SXSW 2025. The 32nd annual SXSW Film & TV Festival featured a massive lineup including 96 feature films, of which 82 were world premieres, plus shorts, TV projects and immersive XR experiences.
The festival kicked off on March 7 with the world premiere of Seth Rogen’s Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio, a satirical look at Hollywood featuring Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn and more.
Standout projects included:
- Death of a Unicorn with Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega.
- The Astronaut, a sci‑fi thriller starring Kate Mara and Laurence Fishburne.
- The Accountant 2 with Ben Affleck in a rare festival premiere setting.
These premieres made Austin a hub for fresh voices and buzzy films ahead of their wider releases.
Music
Music is always a defining part of SXSW, and 2025 was no different. With showcases happening across Austin’s iconic venues, everyone from breakout artists to seasoned performers found stages, crowds and new fans during the festival. Official music showcases ran alongside films and talks throughout the event.
While some online chatter suggested shifts in how showcases were organized, the community found new bands, unexpected collaborations and highlight performances across the city’s bars, clubs and festival tents.
SXSW 2025 also served up a high‑impact slate of Conference and Interactive sessions, pairing thought leaders with daring ideas about technology, creativity and culture.
Keynotes
Daily keynote talks included discussions on AI, creative careers, future tech breakthroughs and storytelling, making room for big thinking both on and off the stage. A livestream of featured conference talks ran each day from March 7 – March 15.
Comedy
If you needed a break from screenings and keynotes, SXSW’s comedy showcases brought big laughs and buzzy sets from a mix of rising comics and established talents. These performances popped up across downtown clubs and theaters for festival badges and walk‑ups alike.
Whataburger
Some of the most unforgettable parts of SXSW weren’t on the official schedule. It included the Whataburger Museum of Art, a fan‑powered gallery of Whataburger‑themed art and murals.
Austin’s streets turned into a creative playground filled with art installations, experiential pop‑ups and brand activations that turned heads and sparked conversations.
SXSW Energy
Beyond official events, SXSW’s real magic is the energy that fills every corner of the city. Free events, indie showcases, pop‑up parties and global networking moments made SXSW feel like a cultural movement as much as a festival.
Local fans and out‑of‑towners alike shared stories of late‑night music finds, film discoveries and spontaneous discussions that kept the conversation going long after the closing day.
SXSW 2025 delivered a week of boundary‑pushing creativity, from world premieres and surprise screenings to breakout musical acts and thought‑provoking talks. Whether you went for the films, the tunes, the panels or the parties, SXSW 2025 left its mark on anyone who joined the celebration in Austin or tuned in online.
Save the date for SXSW 2026 when the festival returns March 12–18 with an even bigger lineup across film, music, tech and more.
