The South by Southwest Festival will expand to London in June 2025.
Born nearly four decades ago in Austin, Texas, the SXSW brand has become synonymous with the celebration of the convergence between creativity, culture and technology. London is the latest expansion outpost after SXSW launched a branded festival in Sydney, Australia last year.
Like the festivals in Austin and Sydney, SXSW London will combine entertainment, music and technology, as well as debate and discussion of challenging topics such as AI, climate change, politics and society.
Since 1987, SXSW has hosted leading speakers and participants from a variety of disciplines, including Christiane Amanpour, Deepak Chopra, Mark Cuban, Melinda Gates, Dave Grohl, Sadiq Khan, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Steven Spielberg, Dr. Lisa Su and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Tilda Swinton, Taika Waititi, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Webb, Michelle Yeoh and Mark Zuckerberg.
SXSW also featured early showcases for musicians like Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran.
“As a lifelong fan of SXSW, I firmly believe that it is more than just an event – it is a movement, a platform where the world’s greatest minds, musicians and motivators come together to share their passion and vision for the future “, he said Randel Bryan, Managing Director of SXSW London. “SXSW London will build on Austin’s incredible legacy… and also provide a platform for the next generation of creative talent. We will work hard to ensure that opportunities for learning, employment and community support are at the heart of everything we do.”
Over the course of a week in June, SXSW London will take over dozens of venues, galleries, clubs and other spaces in Shoreditch, east London, known as a vibrant center for creativity and technological innovation, as well as for its diversity and energetic youth culture, international cuisine and nightlife.
“Following the success of SXSW Sydney, this is an incredible new opportunity to highlight the elements that make SXSW unique in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities,” he said Jann Baskett, Co-President and Chief Brand Officer of SXSW. “We look forward to forging deeper connections with our overseas community and bringing the conversations that start in Austin all the way to London.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted to welcome SXSW to London for the first time ever – confirming our place at the heart of Europe’s technology and creative industries and as a global capital of culture.”
“When I was part of SXSW in Austin in 2018, I saw firsthand the electric atmosphere of innovation that SXSW creates, and I can’t wait to be a part of it again. This is a historic opportunity for London to once again bring together the world’s most exciting talent as part of our mission to build a better and more prosperous London for all.”
Culture Minister Lucy Frazer added: “Festivals have been an important part of British culture for decades and a key reason why Britain is known worldwide for its creative excellence.
“From film and television to fashion and music, London is a global hub for cultural and creative talent. So it’s fantastic that SXSW is coming here to bring together innovators from all of these sectors and show why the UK’s creative industries are the envy of the world.”