The 2026 South by Southwest Conference and Festival will have Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters” as its opening night film.
Provided by NEON
Austin’s perennial culture engine is about to turn 40. and if the 2026 lineup is any indication, this year’s South by Southwest Conference and Festival will include high-wattage star power.
The festival — which runs March 12-18 at venues across downtown Austin — will open with a world premiere designed to set the tone, as filmmaker Boots Riley returns with “I Love Boosters.” The heist comedy is stacked with names that signal SXSW’s continued pull as both launchpad and spectacle.
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Riley’s long-awaited second feature arrives with a cast that includes Keke Palmer, Demi Moore, Eiza González, Alexa Demie, LaKeith Stanfield and Will Poulter. As an opening-night selection, “I Love Boosters” positions SXSW not just as a discovery festival but as a place where established stars test new modes with riskier, more playful material than they’d bring to traditional studio releases.
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 2026 SXSW celebrity forecast
While we don’t know exactly how many stars are heading to Austin, the SXSW Film lineup foreshadows a week where premieres will double as red carpets and panels will bleed into performances:
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“Perfect” brings Julia Fox into the indie spotlight with a dystopian romance that takes place in a world devastated by a water contamination incident.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” assembles Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, Rico Nasty and David Cronenberg for an Apple TV series about a broke new mom.
“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” ups the horror ante with Kathryn Newton, Samara Weaving, Elijah Wood and Shawn Hatosy.
“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.
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“Pretty Lethal” stars Lana Condor, Maddie Ziegler and Uma Thurman in a thriller about five stranded ballerinas.
“Forbidden Fruits” mixes screen and influencer culture with Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Emma Chamberlain and Gabrielle Union for a dark comedy about a cult.
“Basic” adds Leighton Meester and Ashley Park to a young woman’s downward spiral after a breakup.
“They Will Kill You” spotlights Zazie Beetz in a thriller-comedy where a cult seeks a sacrifice.
“Power Ballad” features Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas in a music rivalry.
The conference will include panels with Jamie Lee Curtis, Larry David and Steven Speilberg.
SXSW Music includes Lola Young, Christina Aguilera
Lola Young performs onstage during Spotify’s 2026 Best New Artist Party at LA’s The Lot at Formosa on January 29, 2026 in West Hollywood, California.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Spotify
The SXSW Music Festival will also bring big names to Austin. The Future of Music showcase features Lola Young and Fuerza Regida, while Billboard’s stage highlights Don Toliver, and the All-American Rejects play the festival kickoff party at Stubb’s BBQ.
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Meanwhile, the SXSW-adjacent Sips and Sounds Festival leans mainstream with Christina Aguilera, Ravyn Lenae, Grouplove, Calvin Harris and Foster the People.
Where to spot celebrities in Austin
Dua Lipa, right, takes a photo with La Barbecue owner Ali Clem, left, on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at La Barbecue in Austin.
Provided by La Barbecue
For all its badge-only access, SXSW still spills into the city. South Congress Avenue remains the most reliable runway where sightings happen between coffee runs and casual strolls. Last year, Pedro Pascal was spotted along the strip and at Torchy’s Tacos. Nearby, Barton Springs Pool continues to draw visitors, famous or not, looking to disappear into something low-key.
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At night, the tourist playbook shifts toward Texas mythmaking. Honky-tonks like the White Horse, Broken Spoke and Donn’s Depot routinely pull in artists and actors chasing a two-step. Before heading there, some make a stop at Allens Boots, where Dua Lipa was spotted shopping back in 2025, leaning into the costume of it all.
Food, as always in Austin, is part of the circuit. Barbecue lines at La Barbecue and Leroy and Lewis Barbecue double as informal meet-and-greets, while NADC Burger has also become a recurring SXSW stop. For a more polished version of the same scene, industry regulars tend to orbit dining rooms like Uchi, Este, Hestia, J. Carver’s Oyster Bar & Chophouse, The Kimberley and Sammie’s Italian.
Related: The top 10 fine dining restaurants in Austin
How to attend SXSW 2026
SXSW is open to industry professionals and the public through a badge system. Film & TV, Music and Interactive badges each unlock different slices of the festival, with Platinum badges offering the most comprehensive access. Badges are currently available through the festival’s official site.
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SXSW Music wristbands, which offer secondary access to showcases, are also available for $149.
The festival programs several free community events, including the Flatstock Poster Show and performances on the Radio Day Stage and International Stage.