The story follows struggling creatives navigating debt, eviction threats and a precarious gig economy, visualized in Riley’s inventive style — from looming piles of eviction notices to characters literally struggling up and down steep inclines that mirror the instability of their lives. Moore plays a fashion mogul whose company allegedly lifts designs from Palmer’s character while outsourcing production to factories abroad. The film’s more fantastical moments underscore a darker critique of modern consumer culture, tracing how the race for cheap clothing reverberates through exploited labor, unsafe factories and the endless churn of trend cycles. The result is a sharp, imaginative satire that feels very much in line with Riley’s past work: absurd on the surface but pointed in its examination of capitalism, creativity and who really pays the price for what’s hanging in our closets. — Ana Gutierrez
Alanis Morissette administers a ‘Jagged Little Pill’
Alanis Morissette at Spotify 20: Live at Stubb’s during the SXSW Conference & Festivals on March 14, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Adam Kissick/SXSW Conference & Festivals via
It was a tight nostalgia trip anchored by three Beatles-grade singles from the mid-’90s. On Saturday night, Alanis proved she’s the millennial generation’s Joni Mitchell. A sage elder, strong and spiritual, who believes in social justice and shapes our collective nostalgia with one touchstone, enduring album that we got when we were young. (The great “Jagged Little Pill.”)
Article continues below this ad
Given her reputation and TikTok-famous opener Ella Langley, the badge line was a madhouse. The Spotify party at Stubb’s BBQ felt like the biggest SXSW concert post-pandemic. Lines stretched across Red River Street. Angry fans demanded preferential treatment from workers.
When St. Vincent sang backup on “You Outta Know,” even a Gen-Z audience member within earshot of this reporter noticed: “Oh, I know this song.”— Ramon Ramirez
Don Toliver proves he’s a superstar
Don Toliver at Billboard THE STAGE @ SXSW – Day 1 on March 13, 2026, in Austin, Texas.
Billboard/Billboard via Getty Images
Since its release on Jan. 30, all 18 songs on the Houston-born rapper’s studio album “Octane” have reached the Billboard Hot 100. And they have staying power – nine of the tracks are still charting this week.
Article continues below this ad
The rapid surge in popularity was evident in the adrenaline of Friday’s crowd at Billboard’s Stage at SXSW. The sea of fans packed into the sold-out Moody Amphitheater already knew every song by heart. This record’s appeal could be a testament to the intoxicating effects of its layered soundscapes or a reflection of its viral appeal on social media. Probably both.
Toliver performed nine songs from “Octane,” but the crowd really exploded when he hit the throwback “Can’t Say,” the breakout feature that made his name back in 2018. — Julianna Duennes Russ
Steven Spielberg talks aliens, shades Chalamet
Steven Spielberg speaks onstage during the keynote “The Big Picture with Steven Spielberg” live from SXSW at the Hilton Austin on March 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
“I have a very strong, sneaking suspicion that we are not alone right now,” Steven Spielberg told SXSW Friday afternoon at the Hilton. He believes that aliens aren’t a “lethal disruption,” he said, while discussing new alien flick, “Disclosure Day.” He’s an optimist.
Article continues below this ad
In the film festival’s highest profile keynote, Spielberg spoke candidly about his lifelong fascination with aliens. He said he’s never used AI, casually shaded actor Timothée Chalamet for his recent comments about ballet and teased plans to make a Western and “shoot it in Texas.”
On that front: “I have something in development right now,” he said, adding “and it kicks (expletive).” — R.R.
Noah Kahan’s intimate surprise set
Noah Kahan might be one of the most self-aware people making music right now.
Article continues below this ad
“I’m a little emotionally raw,” he noted to a crowd of several hundred in a small Sixth Street bar Monday night, during an intimate 30-minute performance fresh off the red carpet of the South by Southwest premiere for his documentary “Out of Body.”
As a native Texan, it’s rare to come by folks who are as proud of where they come from as Texans — but Kahan’s one of those folks. He loves being from New England, and he also hates it.
After singing “Homesick” and “Maine” — again, a self-aware New England boy — he commented on the seasonally inappropriate weather, saying he was used to “tacos and swamp-(expletive).” At SXSW, the temperature dropped 60-plus degrees between Sunday and Monday. This is his first time at the Austin fest, he said, despite playing Austin City Limits Music Festival and the TV show and the Moody Center and and and — yeah, he’s a star.
It felt almost wrong to be in a Kahan crowd so small — he sold out stadiums last year, he told us. But having seen one of those stadium tours, they felt as intimate as this show — especially when he broke into his third song, “Growing Sideways,” a song about mental health, therapy and “ignoring your therapist,” he said.
Article continues below this ad
It’s the song that never fails to make me cry. “I’m terrified that I might never have met me,” he sings — a sentiment that anyone who’s ever thought they might not want to hack it anymore can recognize — a gratitude and amazement for the simplicity of just … being here.
His first album in roughly five years comes out April 24 — and “if you don’t like it, I will go into hiding for 100 years,” he said. No pressure. — Katey Psencik
David Cronenberg calls a ceasefire in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Elijah Wood, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy and Tyler Gillett at the “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” premiere during the SXSW Conference & Festivals held at the Paramount Theatre on March 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Adam Kissick/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images
At first glance, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” feels ridiculous even by the elastic standards of genre satire. In this sequel to the 2019 cult hit, four families compete for global control by hunting Grace Le Domas (Samara Weaving), the lone survivor of the original film’s deadly game. In one of the premiere’s most talked-about moments, the patriarch of one of these families (David Cronenberg) casually orders a ceasefire by phone call while watching the news. The audience laughed at the scene’s bluntness, but the joke lands because it taps into the sense that enormous decisions are made somewhere far above public view. The film plays into that anxiety, echoing the questions that hover over the daily news cycle: who actually holds power, and how arbitrary is it? — A.G.
Article continues below this ad
Austin is Orville Peck’s Texas ex
Masked country singer Orville Peck performs a free concert at the Rivian Electric Joyride on Congress Avenue during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in downtown Austin.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
The Lone Ranger-masked, country-sangin’, heartbreakin’, Broadway actin’, Willie-collabin’ LGBTQ icon is a beloved regular.
From impassioned Austin City Limits Festival speeches to playing this very festival “about 15 years ago,” Peck has always been at home in neon Western garb here — a city known for its open-minded ethos and country roots.
Article continues below this ad
He’s more Nashville than Austin, though, with big choruses and frayed, Grand Ole Opry jackets.
Peck covered George Strait’s “All My Exes Live in Texas,” changing the words to “suit his personal life.” So his mid-song breakups occurred in Marfa, Denton and Abilene, with guys named Austin. A man holding a skateboard approved by pumping it up and down. — R.R.
Fuerza Regida is ready for prime time
Fuerza Regida performs on the second night of the SXSW Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase at ACL Live in Austin, Friday, March 13, 2026 at SXSW.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
The California-bred corrido band landed at a ACL Live with a bang Friday night. Donning cowboy hats and playing abrasive low brass, they made a rowdy case for the “next massive English-language crossover band.” Not that they needed to – they’re already one of the 100 most streamed bands on Spotify.
Article continues below this ad
On the ground, a jubilant bilingual-speaking crowd welcomed them like hometown heroes. — R.R.
Jamie Lee Curtis lives wisely, loves well
Jamie Lee Curtis speaks onstage during the “Jamie Lee Curtis. If Not Now, When, If Not Me, Who? Pivoting And Manifesting!” session during the 2026 SXSW Conference And Festival at JW Marriott Austin on March 14, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Nicola Gell/Getty Images
Jamie Lee Curtis was unfiltered in a delightful one-hour talk about manifesting success on Saturday.
Article continues below this ad
She shared several mantras, including that life’s hinges can change everything in minutes. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Halloween” were two of those hinges for the Oscar-winning actress.
“Live wisely, love well” is another.
“When you die, nobody is going to give a (expletive) about how much money you have. They are going to talk about who you were, what kind of human you were,” she said. — Nicole Villalpando
Lola Young stages a triumphant comeback
Lola Young performs on the first night of the SXSW Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase at ACL Live in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at South by Southwest Festival.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
“I needed to take a break but I’m back,” Lola Young told SXSW patrons at ACL Live Thursday night. Fans erupted. Donning gold hoops and a pink tracksuit, Young dwarfed her five-piece backing band in sheer presence. She thrived with specific, painful confessionals. “I spent all week trying to get sober,” she belted on stunning showcase opener, “Dealer.”
Article continues below this ad
“You’ve got 15 minutes until I call you a cab,” she tells a bad suitor on “Walk On By.” She calls out a lover’s illicit Instagram activity in one lyric, then turns inward on another: “Still love you, and I don’t know why.”
Jerry Seinfeld once said that breaking up is like tipping over a vending machine. You have to sway it a few times before it crashes. And writing about that miserable journey of the self is why Young’s songs have seized social media, even more than her punk rock attitude and soaring voice. — R.R.
BEST ACTIVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES
Lone Star gets the country vibes right
Raccoons at the Lone Star Roadhouse pop-up at East End Ballroom during South by Southwest in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
As national brands like Yahoo and Unwell hosted rodeo- and county-fair-themed pop-ups, respectively, it took a Texas brand to do it right. Lone Star’s pop-up in the parking lot next to East End Ballroom was a worthwhile trek off the beaten path to enjoy cold drinks and live music, Texas dancehall-style. Attendees could get fitted for cowboy boots and hats, inked by San Marcos tattoo artist (and official Lone Star partner) Zach Armentor and outfitted in merch designed by Texas artist Zach Wieland. The food picks were also some of the best at the fest: Don’t sleep on the raspberry pork belly burnt ends from Harker Heights-based Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue paired with a Lone Star tall boy.— K.P.
Article continues below this ad
Alex Cooper invites fans to ‘pie a guy.’
“Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper throws a pie at a man at the Unwell County Fair during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Friday, March 13, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy” fame has brought the party to SXSW for a few years now, but this year’s low-key, county-fair-themed event at Lustre Pearl East was the best yet. Attendees could throw darts at balloons, shoot rubber bands at energy drink cans and toss rings around glass bottles, all in the hopes of winning a tiny stuffed animal keychain — small but oddly thrilling to win regardless. A craft station offered the chance to put charms on ripped-up bandana bracelets or bedazzle a “Best in Show”-style blue ribbon. An artist airbrushed tattoos of mermaids and butterflies on torsos and biceps. Peak #girlhood. Plus, Unwell County Fair-goers got two free drink tickets, a meal ticket (Friday’s was a taco, chips and queso from Torchy’s) and the opportunity to watch handsome, shirtless men get pied by women or submerged in a dunk tank. Pandering to the mostly female crowd? Sure, but the bachelorette who got to “pie a guy” seemed to enjoy herself, and so did I. — K.P.
Queer joy shines at ‘Comeback’ brunch, comedy shows
Miguel G. has a wig fitted at the “Seeing Red Salon,” during “The Comeback” Drag Brunch at Rain on 4th during South by Southwest on Saturday, March 12, 2026 in Austin. The event featured an Austin-inspired brunch menu and drag performances celebrating the return of HBO’s sitcom, “The Comeback.”
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
In the past year, Texas has been in the news for rules restricting bathroom use in public buildings and bans on LGBTQ+ clubs at public schools. But blocks from the State Capitol, SXSW spotlighted queer artists in ways that were joyous, soul-stirring and hilarious. Lisa Kudrow’s HBO series “The Comeback” celebrated its 20th anniversary and Season 3 premiere at the festival. The network crashed the weekly Saturday drag brunch at queer hotspot Rain, coiffing attendees with red wigs and presenting a brassy and bodacious lip-sync from acclaimed performer Roxxxy Andrews. Later in the day, Reductress editor Freddie Shanel hosted a hysterical examination of gender identity, family and relationships in the humor website’s first SXSW comedy show. On Saturday, drag queen Kandy Muse sang like a bedazzled angel at the “Basic” cabaret, the night before the movie of the same name opened. At the end of the night, she graciously posed with the young, queer attendees who rushed forward for selfies. — Deborah Sengupta Stith
Article continues below this ad
Paramount+ brings ‘Landman,’ ‘Survivor’ to Rainey Street
People take photographs at a “Landman” photo op at Paramount+’s The Lodge at Clive Bar in downtown Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
There’s no shortage of capital-b-Brands at SXSW, so it can be hard to know which ones create experiences worth waiting in line for – but the Paramount+ activation The Lodge, which returned to Clive Bar, is one of them. With two complimentary drink tickets and endless silly photo ops —pose dramatically like Billy Bob Thornton in the “Landman” poster! Light the torch on “Survivor”! Celebrate like you won a UFC match! — The Lodge, while crowded, can be a nice respite from the madness of SXSW if arrive early in the day. Bonus points for this year’s recreation of the Patch Bar from “Landman” and the adorable mountain-shaped plushies — “He’s named Peaky,” a worker told me — that they were giving out to folks who could prove they had a Paramount+ subscription. — K,P,
International houses give immigrant voices a stage
View of São Paulo House during the SXSW Conference & Festivals on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Amy Price/SXSW Conference and Festivals via Getty Images
One of the pleasures of SXSW is how easily it becomes multilingual. Walking down Congress Avenue during the week, you hear Spanish, Portuguese and the distinct cadences of accents from across South America. For immigrants, it can feel like a rare moment when those voices are uplifted. São Paulo House has long stood out as one of the strongest South American presences, reflecting the large number of Brazilians who attend each March. This year brought something new: Bogotá House, a first-time hub organized by Colombia that highlighted companies looking to connect with audiences in the United States and beyond.
Article continues below this ad
Languages, music and ideas travel easily across borders in these spaces. At a moment when many immigrants feel their voices shrinking in public life, SXSW’s willingness to make room for those cultures carries real weight. — A.G.
Paramore’s Hayley Williams uplifts women entrepreneurs
Hayley Williams and Brian O’Connor spoke about their hair color company at Future Summit in Austin on March 15, 2025.
Ana Gutierrez / Austin American-Statesman
The Future Summit hosted by Create & Cultivate brought speakers like Jonathan Van Ness alongside founders and creators trying to turn ideas into businesses. Hayley Williams, the Paramore frontwoman who built a beauty brand alongside her music career, spoke about Good Dye Young, the hair color company she co-founded with stylist Brian O’Connor. For many fans — including plenty in the audience with neon green or pink hair — dyeing your own hair at home is part of self-discovery.
Article continues below this ad
The conversation turned more serious when Williams spoke about the responsibility she feels toward the communities that helped shape the brand. Sitting in a salon chair, she said, should be a moment where people feel seen and supported. “There’s a lot out there that feels scary,” Williams said. “We’re going to do what we can to make a space that feels creative, and it feels like it builds you up and uplifts you.” — A.G.
An intimate encounter with Jessie Murph
Jessie Murph plays the Scoot Inn on Saturday, March 14 during the South by Southwest Music Festival.
Provided by Yahoo
Crowds started lining up for a chance to get inside Yahoo’s Texas-themed Scoot Inn kickoff concert with Jessie Murph hours before doors opened. The venue was a SXSW attendee’s dream: an open bar with pickle margaritas, free tacos and jalapeño poppers floating about< and merch, including cowboy hats, for those lucky enough to get inside. But with VIP access for Platinum badgeholders and business associates getting first dibs, many of those in line didn’t make it in time to see Murph hit the stage for an hour-long set, which included hits like “1965” and “Blue Strips” and covers like Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain.” Murph’s set was the loud, vibey and intimate — the kind of experience SXSW attendees of old remember, even with the line out the door all night. — Karoline Leonard
Article continues below this ad
Bricknasty might be our next British breakout
Bricknasty plays the British Music Embassy at South by Southwest in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Nelson Autefault/Provided by the British Music Embassy
OK, imagine Frank Ocean-inspired R&B crooning with a saxophone and jazz fusion drumming. And in between, garbled Irish mumbling. Apex musicianship and inspired vocals anchor this breakout hip-hop ensemble that seized the British Music Embassy Thursday night at the Palm Door. Their Spotify corpus doesn’t match the onstage intensity. Yet. But I’m all in. — R.R.
Former Pretenders regroup as His Lordship
James Walbourne, left, and Dave Page of the London rock band His Lordship performs at Hotel Vegas during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Austin.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
I respect the commitment of all three members of His Lordship to wearing black-tie suits for their outdoor set at Hotel Vegas in the middle of a 90-degree sunny afternoon. This rock band from London, consisting of two former members of the Pretenders, was also musically stylish, in part because of frontman James Walbourne, who also plays in Primal Scream and the Pogues. They were completely sweating through their collared shirts by the end of the set, but dang, did they look and sound cool. — M.S.
Article continues below this ad
Zola Marcelle and Amy Gadiaga are U.K.’s next jazz queens
Amy Gadiaga plays the Jazz Re:Freshed U.K. showcase at Flamingo Cantina, during the SXSW Music Festival on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Deborah Sengupta Stith/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
U.K.’s Jazz Re:Freshed annual showcase always reminds us that London is the nucleus of the avant-jazz universe right now. This year’s showcase opened with two outstanding women. Her face masked by a metallic headdress, vocalist Zola Marcelle taught us gestures of welcoming from her native Zimbabwe as she drew us into her world with effortless vocal gymnastics and easy warmth and charm. Then, as her fingers raced across the fretboard of an upright bass that dwarfed her petite figure, Amy Gadiaga wove vocal magic. How special is Gadiaga’s talent? The U.K. jazz heavies are willing to overlook the fact that she’s actually from France. — D.S.S.
Balaclava shows up rough and ready
New York punk band Balaclava performs at Hotel Vegas during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Austin.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Balaclava melted my face off. I saw them at 1 a.m. and couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night. The band describes itself as “birthed from NYC wastewater and soaked in formaldehyde,” and “what animated trash would sound like.” I got thrown out of the mosh pit with bruises and left the venue with a splitting headache. Call me masochistic, but I had the time of my life. — M.S.
Article continues below this ad
Meg Elsier is poised to be a new sad girl fave
Meg Elsier performs at the Marshall day party at The Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Friday night at Las Perlas, the Massachusetts songwriter was louder and faster. Her meditative breakthrough album “Spit Take” balances guitars with inward-gazing confessionals. Here she acted out like a furious professional suffering from impostor syndrome — hard-rocking moves with intention. Like she says, “Fake it till you make it and then break it — and then do it again.” — R,R,
Sheer Mag boasts one of the fest’s most distinctive voices
Sheer Mag performs during Grillo’s “St. Pickle’s Day,” Showcase at Hotel Vegas during South by Southwest on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Frontwoman Tina Halladay had my favorite voice of the week, even usurping Christina Aguilera. Her raspy, imposing tone made each song memorable and compelling. The Philly four-piece band just signed to Third Man Records, and they are a shoo-in for a label founded by Jack White. They have the grit, style and stage presence to take them far, but Halladay’s voice is the linchpin. —M.S.
Article continues below this ad
A bluegrass swing with Susto Stringband
Susto String Band plays the White Horse on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
Katey Psencik/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
As the line wrapped around the block for Yahoo’s “Texas-style” takeover at Scoot Inn, no cover and no line lured my group into one of Austin’s OG honky tonks for an event co-hosted by New West Records and Sendero Provisions Co. Last year, Susto frontman and South Carolina native-turned-Austinite Justin Osborne reworked seven of his songs into bluegrass covers. After adding two new songs, he released an EP under the name Susto Stringband — an addictive stretch of tracks including “Double Crown,” a sweet new one written for the EP, and “Friends, Lovers, Ex-Lovers: Whatever,” a reimagined Osborne classic — that my friends and I have had on repeat since its release. More mandolins and at SXSW, please. — K,P,
Next of Kin adds local authenticity to South by San Jose
Next of Kin plays South by San Jose at Hotel San Jose on Saturday.
Chad Wadsworth/Provided by Bunkhouse Hotels
Austin’s own Next of Kin feels like they were born to play a sunny, 80-degree South by San Jose stage. Three-piece harmonies under the springtime Texas sun at one of SXSW’s best free events made it easy to forget about how different this year’s fest is. Sure, the margaritas are $18, but a crowd of elderly men in straw hats and kids in oversized ear protection dancing along to three women thrusting middle fingers in the air during “Mean Streak” and strutting across the stage to “Homemaker” felt like authentic SXSW in a year when that feeling is hard to come by. — K.P.
Article continues below this ad
Jamaica Moana brings it like Biggie
Australian rapper Jamaica Moana performs at Seven Grand during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, on Sunday, March 15, 2026,
Ramon Ramirez/Special to American-Statesman
Australian, nonbinary rapper Jamaica Moana isn’t just a scene-organizing creative force. They rap like a monster. Sunday night at Seven Grand, the Samoan emcee from “Western Sydney on Dharawal and Gadigal land” rapped like a puma — like New Orleans bounce legend Big Freedia, but with a smoother cadence and endless couplets. Think about Biggie elegantly detailing a low-level robbery.
The difference is Jamaica did it in heels. — R.R.
Article continues below this ad
Punk vets the Spits revel in chaos
The Spits perform during the Grillo’s “St. Pickle’s Day,” Showcase at Hotel Vegas during South by Southwest on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The Spits gave Osees a run for their money for the craziest hardcore band to play on Hotel Vegas’ outdoor stage this week. The veteran punk band’s set was utter chaos. People were kicked around in the pit, pancaked at the front of the stage, and the crowd surfing had a 90% fail rate. It was by far the most unforgettable show this SXSW for the sheer insanity that took place in the span of 90 minutes. I’m surprised no one left with a chipped tooth. — M.S.
Lil Asian Thiccie nails her U.S. debut
Lil Asian Thiccie performs at Las Perlas during the SXSW Music Festival, on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Ramon Ramirez/Special to American-Statesman
Straight outta the “rice paddies,” Kuala Lumpur rapper Lil Asian Thiccie sang, rapped and DJ’d Sunday night at Las Perlas. It was her first gig in the U.S., she said. The whole set was a jubilant Malaysian dance party. She had these Icona Pop-inspired nightclub anthems, too. It was part of Malaysia Night, organized by rapper Zamaera. She decided to fundraise an entire showcase after falling in love with SXSW last year. She told the Statesman that success was just a matter of pulling it off and enjoying it.
Article continues below this ad
The kind of SXSW set that makes this whole circus worth fighting for. — R.R.
Is Buckets Gen Z’s Weezer?
The L.A.-based band Buckets reminded me of the dorky basement rock that gave rise to bands like Weezer. The group made buttery guitar tones feel heavy, but most importantly, it just felt like four young bros goofing off on stage, which can and did result in some of the most authentic music I heard at this year’s festival. Apart from the sludgy sounds, the best part of the set was Buckets’ guitarist saying, “I’m wearing my Texas shirt,” and it was Hank from “King of the Hill” holding a leaf blower with the caption “This blows.” — M.S.
That guy who proposed to Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer at the Featured Session “Baby, This is Keke Palmer Live” during SXSW Conference & Festivals at JW Marriott Austin on March 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images
Palmer was leading a discussion with her “I Love Boosters” co-stars onstage at the JW Marriott Hotel when a man suddenly got down on one knee in front of the stage and pulled out an engagement ring, expressing his love for Palmer and asking her to marry him.
Article continues below this ad
There was a beat of nervous confusion as Palmer declined his advances. She called him “sweet” before laughing uncomfortably and asking, “Is this a prank?” She didn’t appear to recognize the man.
Audience members quickly realized the interjection wasn’t part of the session and called for security to remove him. The man refused a security officer’s instructions to leave the front of the stage, so after a brief back-and-forth, he was physically removed to a chorus of audience boos. SXSW immediately revoked his badge. — J.D.R.
The lines. Oh, the lines
Festivalgoers walk along Congress Avenue in front of the Paramount Theatre, which hosts several red-carpet movie premieres during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Waiting in line has always been part of the ritual at SXSW, but this year the calculus feels harsher. A new reservation system lets badge holders lock in spots ahead of time, sending everyone else — even those with pricey credentials — into a separate general-admission line to see if seats remain. When the festival site crashed on the first day reservations opened, many attendees were left refreshing their browsers and hoping for the best, while the most sought-after screenings quickly filled. There were three additional reservation drops, but no one we talked to received notice of the last two.
Article continues below this ad
Without a reservation, the new festival rule of thumb is simple: arrive early — really early. For high-profile premieres like “I Love Boosters,” starring Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfield and Demi Moore, festival veterans say two hours in line may be the only safe bet. Even then, late entries often end up in the Paramount Theatre’s balcony. Still, the wait has its own culture: strangers swapping recommendations, comparing schedules and debating which screenings are worth the gamble. — A.G.
Sunday’s weather roller coaster
A man bundles up in cold weather before a performance by The Lumineers at Waterloo Park during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Monday, March 16, 2026, in Austin.
Jay Janner/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
The first few days of the festival were temperate, with the blissful but deceptive spring weather that has inspired countless SXSW-ers to try to make a go of Austin permanently. Then Sunday rolled around. By mid-afternoon, as temperatures in the mid-90s were breaking records around the region, shifting weather patterns prompted festival organizers to cancel a free community concert with Tune-Yards at Auditorium Shores due to the threat of “severe upcoming winds.” A few hours later, they moved a ticketed Billboard Stage at SXSW concert at Waterloo Park to the Concourse Project in Southeast Austin. As the sun began to dip and the wind picked up, revelers who hours earlier were sweating in their booty shorts were suddenly shivering as the temperature plummeted into the 40s. — D.S.S.
Article continues below this ad
Long hauls between programming hubs
An autonomous robot, Rizzbot, walks around giving compliments and insults to passers-by near SXSW activations on Congress Avenue during the first day of South by Southwest, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Without the Convention Center as a centralized hub, scattered programming made the festival feel disjointed at times. The Congress Avenue block party, free and open to the public, was a vibe this year, with free food and drink samples, makeup and soap giveaways and Film and TV activations open to both the public and badgeholders. But it was a full 30-minute walk from Rainey Street, where other popular activations were situated. Walking is always part of the deal at SXSW, but this year programming felt more spread out than ever.
On Saturday afternoon, while fans queued for over an hour for activations on Congress Avenue, BBC Presents debuted its first SXSW showcase, a free public show, to an audience of a few dozen at the Downright. The Convention Center was a sterile environment, but it provided a solid space for attendees from all tracks to crash between sessions and recharge as needed. — D.S.S.
Article continues below this ad
Industry crowds: All American Rejects reads the room
The All-American Rejects perform during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
The pop-punk band from Oklahoma came out banging their 2005 hit “Dirty Little Secret” at the SXSW Music opening party on Thursday night at Stubb’s BBQ. The four-piece’s relevancy bell curve peaked between 2002 and 2009 and they played a few of their biggest songs from that time, like “Swing Swing” and “Move Along.”
Frontman Tyson Ritter — unrecognizable since trimming his signature wavy black mop top into a crew cut — knew the crowd he was pandering to: 50% nostalgia-drunk millennial fans and 50% drunk industry badge holders unsure where else to go on a Thursday night.
Article continues below this ad
“So is this a big (expletive) industry crowd tonight, is that what it is?” he remarked at the beginning of the show.