AUSTIN, Texas — South by Southwest (SXSW) organizers are pushing back against speculation that the festival could move out of Austin in the near future, emphasizing the event will remain rooted in the city where it began four decades ago.
In a statement, SXSW officials said there are no discussions about relocating the festival outside of Austin, reiterating the city’s role as its permanent home.
“SXSW 2026 marks our 40th year in Austin. We were born in Austin, and this will always be our home,” organizers said in the statement. “As SXSW explores new hubs like the Clubhouses and experiments with programming across more of the city during this transition, the Austin Convention Center remains an important part of the event’s history and future.”
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It comes as the festival adjusts to changes surrounding the Austin Convention Center, which was torn down last year to make way for a new convention center that is expected to open in late 2028.
“We look forward to returning to a world-class convention center when it reopens and continuing to grow SXSW in Austin for years to come,” SXSW continued in their statement.
Organizers say that tickets for next year’s SXSW are already on sale on the event’s website.