The 40th edition of South by Southwest is set to kick off this weekend in Austin, marking a major milestone for one of the world’s most influential gatherings at the intersection of technology, film, music, and culture.
According to the festival’s official schedule portal, the week-long event, running from March 12 to 18, will feature an expansive lineup of conference sessions, keynote conversations, film and television screenings, music showcases, exhibitions, and networking events spread across venues throughout the city.
Held annually in Austin, the festival draws innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, and global thought leaders for a packed week of keynote discussions, screenings, live performances, and industry conversations.
The 40th edition of the festival, SXSW continues to serve as a launchpad for emerging ideas and collaborations, bringing together startups, creators, policymakers, and investors under one roof. The anniversary edition is expected to draw thousands of attendees from across the globe, all converging in Austin to explore trends shaping technology, storytelling, business, and the wider creative economy.
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Indian Americans are also expected to have a visible presence at this year’s SXSW. Entrepreneurs, technologists, filmmakers, and creators from the diaspora are scheduled to participate in panels, showcases, and networking events across the festival’s innovation, film, and music tracks.
Among those connected to the broader South Asian ecosystem at the event is venture and legal expert Aravinda Seshadri, who is involved in discussions focused on the South Asian business landscape and diaspora entrepreneurship.
The 2026 edition will also feature several speakers of Indian and South Asian Americans working across the U.S. technology and venture ecosystem. Among them is Rana el Kaliouby, co-founder of Affectiva and general partner at Blue Tulip Ventures. She is scheduled to appear in a featured session with journalist Bob Safian examining why the future of artificial intelligence must remain human-centric- part of SXSW’s broader technology programming on the ethical and responsible development of AI.
Other Indian American entrepreneurs and community leaders are also expected to contribute to diaspora-focused conversations around the festival. Nitin Bajaj, founder of The INDUStry Show and creator of the American South Asian Network, is associated with discussions highlighting the growing influence of South Asian professionals in the United States.
Mohini Todkari, a geospatial technologist and community advocate, is also part of programming around South by Southwest. Todkari, who serves as a Senior Developer Evangelist at HERE Technologies, works with developers and companies building next-generation mobility and autonomous systems using mapping technologies and artificial intelligence. Alongside her technology work, she is actively involved in advancing South Asian representation in the tech and startup ecosystem.
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As co-founder of the American South Asian Network, Todkari has helped build a national platform connecting students, founders, and professionals through events, collaborations, and community storytelling. At SXSW, she is expected to co-host a South Asian community meetup with Bajaj, designed to bring together creatives, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across industries.
The gathering is envisioned as a vibrant networking space for South Asians working in entertainment, media, startups, and the broader creative economy. Artists, filmmakers, stand-up comedians, founders, and other professionals are invited to connect, exchange ideas, and build collaborations. With a focus on diaspora storytelling and cross-industry partnerships, the meetup aims to celebrate South Asian talent while fostering new opportunities within the energetic environment of SXSW.
Meanwhile, Rishi Khanna, who leads the Dallas-based digital innovation firm ISHIR, is linked to technology and venture-focused conversations around artificial intelligence, startups, and emerging digital infrastructure during the conference week.
Another Indian American professional featured in the program is Pranshu Khanna, Senior Director of Business Value Architecture at Merkle. With nearly two decades of experience in data analytics and financial strategy, Khanna works with organizations to translate complex data into measurable business outcomes.
At the 2026 edition of South by Southwest, Khanna is scheduled to speak in a session titled “Beyond Beautiful: A Data-Driven Framework for Design ROI,” set to take place on March 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Austin Marriott Downtown. The session will explore how businesses can measure the financial value of design and customer-experience initiatives using data-driven frameworks and strategic modelling.
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The festival’s cultural and creative tracks will also feature South Asian voices. Fashion and culture entrepreneur Shalini Vadhera is slated to participate in a Red Thread X House session focused on representation and global beauty entrepreneurship.
Artist and vocalist Soukhya is connected with the festival’s music showcases, which spotlight emerging performers from around the world. Additional contributors linked to the broader SXSW programming ecosystem include Kiku Chaudhuri, Ajay Patel, Priya Taneja, and technology professional Yasir Arafat.
Their participation across panels, industry discussions, and cultural showcases reflects the growing presence of Indian American innovators and creatives shaping conversations around technology, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and global culture at SXSW.
The festival schedule allows attendees to browse thousands of sessions and curate personalized itineraries across categories such as keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, artist performances, and special events. Programming spans a wide range of themes including artificial intelligence, startups, the creator economy, culture and design, climate innovation, and the future of work.
Beyond the conference tracks, SXSW also hosts film premieres, television screenings, and hundreds of live music performances—reinforcing its reputation as a cross-industry gathering where technology, storytelling, and entertainment converge.