“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” a sequel to the 2019 horror film, is premiering at this year’s South by Southwest Conference and Festival.
Provided by Searchlight Pictures
The South by Southwest Conference and Festival on Wednesday released the first major wave of programming for its 2026 Film & TV Festival, with a lineup that combines high-profile television premieres with a broad slate of feature films, documentaries, short films and immersive projects set to screen across Austin in March.
The 33rd edition of the festival will run March 12–18 and, for the first time, open on a Thursday and close on a Wednesday. Organizers said the schedule change reflects the continued growth of the Film & TV Festival, which now spans film, television and emerging media.
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Fanning, Kidman, Pfeiffer among stars headlining SXSW
Elle Fanning stars in the Apple TV series “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” coming to the South by Southwest Conference and Festival in March.
Provided by Apple TV
The opening-night selection will be the world premiere of “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” an Apple TV series produced by David E. Kelleyand based on the novel by Rufi Thorpe. The series stars Elle Fanning as a young mother struggling with financial instability, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Nicole Kidman, Greg Kinnearand Marcia Gay Harden. Apple TV plans to release the series globally on April 15.
This year’s lineup includes 58 feature films, 49 of them world premieres, as well as 52 short films, 20 music videos, nine television projects and 29 XR projects. Additional programming will be announced in mid-February.
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The 2026 South by Southwest Conference and Festival will have Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters” as its opening night film.
Provided by NEON
Narrative features in the initial announcement include Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters,”starring Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfieldand Demi Moore; “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,”an action comedy starring Vince Vaughnand James Marsden; and “Over Your Dead Body,” directed by Jorma Tacconeand starring Samara Weavingand Jason Segel. Genre titles include “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” a sequel to the 2019 horror film, and “They Will Kill You,” starring Zazie Beetzand Patricia Arquette.
Several films from established independent filmmakers are also part of the lineup.Joe Swanberg returns to SXSW with “The Sun Never Sets,” starring Dakota Fanningand Jake Johnson, while John Carney’s “Power Ballad”stars Paul Ruddand Nick Jonas. “Family Movie,” a horror comedy starring Kevin Baconand Kyra Sedgwick, follows a low-budget film production disrupted by a real-life crime.
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The stories beyond the red carpet
A man falls to his knees as protesters make their way down Cesar Chavez Street decrying the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Michael Ramos in Austin on May 31, 2020.
American-Statesman file photo
The documentary slate includes films focused on music, politics and contemporary culture. “#WhileBlack” examines the experiences of Black Americans whose viral videos have shaped national conversations, including Darnella Frazier, who filmed the killing of George Floyd. Other documentaries profile longtime music critic Robert Christgau, trace the history of the band Los Lobos and explore topics ranging from artificial intelligence to climate change.
Short films and immersive projects remain a significant part of the festival’s identity, particularly for local filmmakers. SXSW will again present a Texas Short Competition featuring films made in or connected to the state, with several addressing issues such as abortion access, immigration, climate and aging.
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International films are also represented in the initial lineup. Jonás Cuarón’s “Campeón Gabacho,” starring Rosario Dawson and Cheech Marin, tells the story of a Mexican migrant in the United States, while “Mam,” a U.S. premiere from France, follows a Texas-born chef pursuing a career in New York. The festival’s Global section will include films from Lebanon, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Television programming includes three TV premieres and six independent pilots. In addition to “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” premieres include “The Audacity,” a drama centered on privacy and technology, and “Monsters of God,” a series examining the illegal wildlife trade.
All films and television projects will be eligible for audience awards in their respective categories. Festival organizers said the remaining Film & TV programming will be announced in mid-February.
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How do I attend SXSW? How much are badges and wristbands?
Badges for the SXSW Film and TV Fest are currently on sale for $1,095. Platinum badges, which grant access to all festival tracks, are $1,865. Innovation (formerly Interactive) badges are $1,270 and Music badges are $745. Music wristbands, which grant secondary access to music showcases, are $149. Prices will increase on Feb. 6. More info at sxsw.com/badges.