South by Southwest (SXSW) has unveiled the first wave of programming for its 40th edition, scheduled for March 12-18, 2026. The festival, a cornerstone for creative and tech pioneers, announced over 250 sessions shaped by its community-driven PanelPicker process.
This year’s lineup spotlights the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. While AI remains a dominant theme, the programming reveals a significant pivot towards its human implications—exploring how creativity, ethics, and emotion persist in a tech-driven world. Leaders from Adobe, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Disney are set to lead these critical conversations.
The 2026 event will also feature a strengthened startup ecosystem through SXSW Pitch, the festival’s renowned startup competition. The platform has a formidable track record: since 2009, more than 80% of its 732 participating startups have secured funding, collectively raising over $22 billion. Notable alumni include Siri, Tubemogul, and ICON, with 22% of participants being acquired by giants like Google, Apple, and Meta.
“SXSW continues to be the definitive meeting ground for visionaries,” said Greg Rosenbaum, SXSW’s Senior Vice President of Programming. “For our 40th edition, we’re placing ‘humans’ at the center, examining how innovation truly affects people and creativity.”
The deadline for startups to apply to SXSW Pitch is November 7, 2025.
