Most Incredible Voice: Alanis Morissette
You oughta know that this ’90s icon has still got it in spades. So powerful is her voice that one of her trademark moves is pulling away or turning to the side as she belts out classics like “One Hand In My Pocket” and “Ironic.” Lines wrapped around the block for this Spotify event, which served as a 20th anniversary party for the streaming juggernaut. Morissette spent the evening dishing out unflinching political barbs between songs before having St. Vincent join her on stage for an incredible performance of scorned-lover anthem “You Oughta Know.”
Alanis Morissette. Photo by Bryan C. Parker.
Most Frustrating: Disjointed Layout
To be fair, we all knew the situation going into it, and SXSW certainly never asked for its home base (the convention center) to be demolished. Still, navigating the festival proved more difficult than ever with venues from the north part of Congress to East Austin to the Rivian Roadhouse across the bridge. Austin growth has made it into a place that’s nearly impossible to traverse during afternoon hours, whether via personal car, Waymo, or Uber. It’s no longer easy to just pop from one thing to the next downtown, and that has dramatically altered the character of the fest.
Best Immersive Activation: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’s Garrison Pub
For all the forgettable pop-ups that have breezed through SXSW over the years with cheap gimmicks, this Peaky Blinders–inspired locale was a masterclass in how to make an impression. Transforming a downtown event space into The Garrison, Netflix made the venue look and felt like a real pub replete with vintage seating as well as free cocktails, old-time photos, tattoos, and even haircuts from barbers. Oh, and did we mention Barry Keoghan stopped by?
Austin, Texas – March 12: at the SXSW SORT ME during the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festivals at on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Photo by Andy Wenstrand.
Most Fun Celebrity Surprise: John Goodman
You never know where a star might pop up during the annual festival—or what they might be doing. Those looking to grab a bite at a food truck got a most welcome shock on Friday as actor John Goodman fed hungry fans from a Blake’s Junior truck. In town for the world premiere of his new film, Chili Finger, the actor donned an apron and hat to serve guests chili with a side of selfies.
Best Daytime Hangout: Rivian Electric Roadhouse
Checklist for a solid SXSW day party: great tunes, ample space, free beer. Perhaps we should expect nothing less from the festival’s presenting sponsor, but we still found ourselves impressed with Rivian’s presence. With some snacks to graze on and a huge stage with a great sound system, the event felt borrowed from SXSW iterations of yore. By partnering with local radio station KUTX to bring in some of Austin’s best artists (Next of Kin, we’re looking in your direction) and serving up cold brews free of charge, the electric vehicle brand did everything right this year.
Okan at Rivian Electric Roadhouse. Photo by Bryan C. Parker.
Most Refreshing Bash: José Andrés Paella Party
Considering the pedigree of its award-winning and Michelin-starred chefs—not to mention its mega-famous host— José Andrés’ paella bash could have been a stuffy, ultra-competitive affair. Instead, chefs Evan LeRoy (LeRoy & Lewis), Sarah McIntosh (Épicerie), Edgar Rico (Nixta), and Jorge Luis Hernández (Nicosi) served up clever, mouthwatering versions of the Spanish favorite, with ingredients from crawfish to barbecue to squid ink. The vibe was jovial and creative, and the audience got to sample each paella variety for themselves. Though the weather was uncharacteristically chilly, guest left the outdoor bash feeling warm and fuzzy.
Best Unofficial Party: Lone Star Roadhouse
There’s always plenty of places to have fun that don’t require a SXSW badge. This year, the best spot for that was the Lone Star Roadhouse. With four days of fantastic live music from artists like Emily Nenni and Rattlesnake Milk, and a locale that didn’t require battling downtown traffic, this was the perfect balance of exciting happening and chill respite. We give a Texas-sized hat tip to our pals at the iconic beer brand.
Best Honorary Texan: Ella Langley
She may hail from Alabama and reside in Tennessee, but country star Ella Langley fits right in here in the Lone Star State. And it’s not just her charming southern drawl. With a Billboard No. 1 hit under her oversized belt buckle, the singer turned Spotify’s showcase at Stubb’s into a choral singalong for crowd-pleasers like “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Choosin’ Texas.” She feels poised for mega-stardom, especially with her fame at an all-time high even before a new album arrives on April 10.
Ella Langley. Photo by Bryan C. Parker.
Cutest Viral Moment: Kid Rapping at BigXthaPlug
Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug wasn’t a lone star when he hit the Rolling Stone Future of Music showcase on Saturday: The crowd absolutely lost it when the rapper brought a kid up on stage to flawlessly rap alongside him as the duo sang his hit song “Texas.” Here’s hoping we see this youngster on the mic again soon.
Best Upgrade: Radio Day Stage at Downright
For years, this stage has boasted some of the best acts of the fest, as organizers platformed quality talent in a place easy to access for attendees in the convention center. However, the ballroom always felt not quite rock ‘n’ roll enough to be cool. With the building gone, the stage relocated to the backyard at the Downright Hotel, in close proximity to Mohawk and Stubb’s. That alignment with the heart of the live music district lent a little more panache to great acts like Okan, Morgan, Radium Dolls, and La Texana.
Grace Sorensen at the Radio Day Stage. Photo by Bryan C. Parker.
Best Collaboration: SXSW and Luck Reunion’s Ram Jam
We’ve said before that Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion has consistently gained ground on SXSW as the music event to attend in March. That’s true again this year, and SXSW made a prudent decision to bring Luck in as the curator for a fantastic showcase on the final night of the fest. Prolific country troubadour Charley Crockett headlined Stubb’s, delivering a set chock-full of bangers, including a few from yet another new album, Age of the Ram, due out next month.
Biggest Rising Star: Lola Young
The fact that Rolling Stone’s parent company, PMC, now owns controlling shares in SXSW allows the lauded music mag enormous latitude for how they activate at the festival. The good news is that they’ve made excellent use of that privilege in recent years. This year’s Future of Music showcase featured impressive diversity of genres spanning pop, rock, latin fusion, and hip-hop. Kicking off the festivities, UK singer Lola Young performed a standout set with hit songs like the uber-viral “Messy” and “Dealer” to a packed ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Since a scary moment last September when she collapsed on stage in New York, the singer has made a triumphant comeback and is set to be the next big thing.
Lola Young. Photo by Bryan C. Parker.
Most Perplexing: Lopsided Scheduling
We all knew that SXSW was shrinking from 10 days to seven, but it felt more like it was going all the way down to four. Most of the major events, parties, and activations took place between Thursday and Sunday, making the following week feel underdeveloped. Those few events that did utilize those remaining three days found themselves with less competition, and it would be great to see brands spread out a little more next year to allow participants more opportunity to engage.