SXSW Event List | Last Updated: Feb 28 - 2p ET
The 2025 SXSW Free Events Stacklist
We've started gathering all the free SXSW events we could into one stack. All of these events are free and open to everyone, though some may offer VIP passes for purchase or give priority access to badge holders. If you know of any more reach out to [email protected] and let us know and we'll get them added.
This special event kicks off SXSW and offers a unique opportunity to connect with both local and international guests. Attendees will hear from Mayor Kirk Watson, Hugh Forrest, President & Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, and Gordon Daugherty, Co-founder & Chairman of Capital Factory.
Join the Startup Casa, the second annual gathering in Austin—adjacent to SXSW—dedicated to recognizing and showcasing the dynamic Latino startup ecosystem.
Winning on the battlefield remains critical, but the fight for freedom has evolved. New threats—cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and assaults on critical infrastructure—now target the technology that underpins our societies. This event calls on the private sector, governments, and individuals to unite in building a secure, resilient tech ecosystem. At its core, this event underscores a shared commitment: what we do, how we do it, and who we do it with are all in service of the free world. It’s not just about overcoming threats—it’s about protecting what keeps us safe and free.
Mark your calendars - the ayana Foundation and own. is thrilled to host a dynamic event celebrating the vibrant community of entrepreneurs in Austin! Whether you're a seasoned founder, an emerging entrepreneur, or an investor, this event is designed to spark meaningful connections and provide valuable insights.
Join friends and colleagues from Baltimore to Austin, London to The Bay Area, Oakland to Tulsa, and many places in between as we gather to share in like-minded fellowship, our best practices, potential partnerships, and link up our pipelines across the country, and the world.
Join TEN Capital LIVE! Venture Lab at Oracle NetSuite—an exclusive event for investors and family offices to explore trends and strategies.
The 2025 SXSW Utility Stack - Badges, Schedules, and References
Here's a bunch of links just to have on hand for schedules, directions, badges, and other stuff.
The main homepage for the conference. Discover the fusion of technology, film, music, and culture at SXSW, taking place in Austin, Texas from March 7-15, 2025.
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The Platinum Badge is your key to everything SXSW has to offer — opening up the breadth and depth of our groundbreaking conference sessions, iconic festivals, unparalleled networking opportunities, and more.
The SXSW Interactive Badge gives you access to unparalleled discovery, professional development, and learning opportunities via our compelling sessions, mentors, workshops, and more with primary entry to all SXSW Conference Events, Exhibitions, and Comedy Showcases, plus secondary access to a majority of Film & TV and Music programming.
The SXSW Film & TV Badge is your pass to nine days of screenings, including World and U.S. premieres, featuring a high caliber and diverse lineup of film, TV and XR. Film & TV Festival programming spans movies and episodic work by new independent filmmakers, Hollywood comedies, genre standouts, documentaries, shorts, and more.
A SXSW Music Badge grants you primary entry to our legendary Music Festival showcases, music programming, mentor sessions, and workshops at the SXSW Conference, Comedy Festival showcases, plus secondary access to most Interactive and Film & TV programming.
You can get free SXSW Guest Badges now. They are essentially a totally free badge that will allow you free SXSW access to some seriously awesome official events, including movie screenings, exhibitions, presentations, and more. (Link seems to be down from time to time. Be sure to check it from time to time.)
The 2025 SXSW - Off the Grid Stack
You know someone who knows someone? Maybe these are the kinds of parties, events, locations, and hangouts that you'll dig. Keeping track of the things you won't find on the official schedules.
From this article by Jonas White: This speakeasy is fully devoted to maintaining secrecy and a low profile, moreso than any of its predecessors in my article series. The details they agreed to share were minimal. However, I’m excited to report what they’ll allow, and you’ll have to find out the rest for yourself.
Here Nor There: This speakeasy is located in the heart of Downtown Austin, near the Driskill hotel. It requires a reservation through their mobile app to gain access. The entrance is hidden, and only those with the gate code can enter. It offers an eclectic, international atmosphere with meticulously crafted cocktails.
Located on the famous 6th Street and formally a brothel masquerading as a massage parlor known as "Midnight Cowboy Modeling Oriental Massage," Midnight Cowboy is one of the oldest speakeasies in Austin, Texas. Rather than hide the building's dark history, we have chosen to embrace it. Midnight Cowboy offers prohibition-style decor, a secret entrance, old-school cocktails and a haunted history. We are an intimate- reservations only lounge, make your reservations today.
Firehouse Lounge is a local favorite, blending speakeasy charm with a welcoming atmosphere. Tucked behind a hidden bookshelf, our cocktail bar serves up expertly crafted cocktails and locally brewed beers, with a diverse range of live music performances. Whether you’re visiting on a night out or want to discover Austin’s eclectic music talent, our lounge offers something special for everyone.
If the green light outside Shangri-La is on, go straight through the bar and up to the deck out back. Then turn around and take the back staircase down to reach The Treasury.
Discover the latest tech stack behind the 2025 SXSW Off the Grid innovation, curated by Stacklist for innovators and entrepreneurs.
Let's Eat! Where to Get the Best Food in Austin
Working to pull together the best spots to eat in Austin. These include some of the places that I've been in the past, but also I'm trying to gather the definitive list from Austinites, Reddit, as well as friends and family recommendations. Save your favorites, have them handy as you explore the town of Austin, or save them all! I'm gonna try and add custom notes to the ones I visit during my trip
Turn to none other than Veracruz All Natural for authentic Mexican cuisine unlike any other in Greater Austin, TX. Learn more.
Tucked away in North Austin, NG Cafe is a family-run gem praised for its Banh Mi and Thai-inspired desserts. With only 28 Google reviews at the time of writing, it remains under the radar despite its flavorful dishes like pho tai (beef noodle soup) and green curry. The owners’ focus on fresh ingredients and generous portions has earned a loyal following, particularly among students and nearby residents. The café’s thai tea crème brûlée—a fusion dessert—showcases its inventive approach to traditional recipes. For SXSW attendees exploring beyond downtown, NG Cafe offers a cozy respite with bold flavors.
Cafe Malta, nestled at the intersection of William Cannon and Brodie Lane, combines intimate ambiance with Mediterranean flair. Recommended by Reddit users for its mussels in white wine sauce and happy hour deals, this spot caters to those seeking a refined yet relaxed dining experience. The grilled octopus with saffron aioli and the Moroccan lamb tagine highlight its cross-cultural menu. With minimal online buzz but strong word-of-mouth endorsements, it’s a favorite for date nights or small group dinners. Its off-the-beaten-path location in South Austin ensures it remains a hidden treasure during the festival frenzy.
This East Sixth Street food truck, boasting a 4.6 rating from 289 reviews, delivers innovative fried chicken with global influences. The OG Sandwich—featuring sweet chili honey, green papaya relish, and fried shallots—epitomizes its fusion ethos. Unlike mainstream chains, Spicy Boys emphasizes quality over quantity, using locally sourced chicken and housemade sauces. The Szechuan peppercorn wings offer a numbing spice that has garnered a cult following. Its casual setup and quick service make it ideal for SXSW attendees grabbing a bite between events.
El Dorado Cafe, a East Austin staple, reimagines Tex-Mex with vegan-friendly options and locally sourced ingredients. Praised in Reddit threads for its breakfast tacos and queso flameado, it balances authenticity with creativity. Dishes like the nopalitos con huevos (cactus scrambled eggs) and mole enchiladas reflect its commitment to regional Mexican cuisine. The café’s vibrant patio and affordable pricing make it a hub for both locals and in-the-know visitors. During SXSW, its late-night hours and proximity to downtown solidify its status as a go-to spot.
Join the Aussie vibe at Two Hands, serving up fresh, delicious food, expertly crafted cocktails, and top-notch coffee in the heart of Austin.
The 2025 SXSW Comedy Stack
Laugh your way through SXSW! The Comedy Festival brings a dynamic mix of today’s most exciting comedic voices for a week-long celebration—featuring stand-up, improv, and unexpected surprises. Who’s on your must-see list?
Highlighting the industry’s brightest stars and showcasing up-and-coming acts since 2008, explore SXSW Comedy’s growing list of alumni.
Take a look back at SXSW Comedy Festival posters and lineups of the past! Celebrate emerging and established talent seen in Austin, Texas.
Mindy Tucker has been photographing comedians at the SXSW Comedy Festival since 2014. Here's a look back at some of our favorites from the past decade.
Join Scott Aukerman, host of the iconic Earwolf podcast, for a hilarious live recording at SXSW 2025. Expect witty banter, character work, and special guest appearances from the world's funniest comedians.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of LA's legendary Hollywood Improv at SXSW, featuring club favorites and a milestone in comedy history.
The 2025 SXSW Music Stack
The SXSW Music Festival brings together artists, industry professionals, creatives, and music lovers from around the world to make connections, elevate their careers, and celebrate the magic of live music – from legendary performers to the most exciting new talent.
Get an overview of the music showcases.
Music Showcase Artists | Mar 10
View the list of artists to perform on this date as well as the exact time and location where you can watch them.
Austin, TX’s Bee Blackwell creates 90s-vibe alternative rock with deeply personal themes and soaring, majestic vocals. She documents her self-exploration in a way that resonates with anyone who has experienced a coming-of-age journey or is going through one. After playing in rock bands through high school and college, Bee began posting her favorite emo and grunge covers on TikTok in 2023. Following several viral moments on the platform, she transitioned to releasing cathartic and heartfelt original songs, quickly captivating a growing audience.
Australian six-piece Coldwave is a frantic yet tightly controlled blend of jagged guitars, booming horns and uncompromising vocal delivery that captures the abstract in life’s most mundane moments.
Kavi is a South Asian mixed media artist whose work explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the power of the feminine. Born in Bombay, India but raised in California, she draws inspiration from her rich cultural tapestry, blending traditional Indian aesthetics with contemporary art practices.
Ramya Pothuri is an RnB/Pop artist, from St. Louis, Missouri- infusing her sound with lustrous vocals, elements of dream pop, synth wave, and reflecting on themes of love, womanhood, and introspection. Her story is the experience of an American girl moving to a foreign country and how it lead to her journey into being an artist.
Gayathri Krishnan is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and producer who blends her Carnatic music roots with modern R&B influences. Her sound fuses tradition with innovation, characterized by introspective lyrics and lush harmonies.
Music Showcases | Mar 11, 2025
View the list of artists to perform on this date as well as the exact time and location where you can watch them.
Formed in 2017, Terraplana is a four-piece band from Curitiba, Brazil, blending atmospheric shoegaze with indie rock. The band consists of Stephani Heuczuk (vocals/bass), Vinícius Felix (vocals/guitar), Cassiano Vidal (vocals/guitar), and Wendeu Emerick (drums). After releasing an EP and performing across Brazil in 2018 and 2019, they returned in 2023 with their debut album 'olhar pra trás', released via Balaclava Records. Praised as one of the best Brazilian albums of the year, it resonated with shoegaze lovers for its lush guitars, haunting melodies, and introspective lyrics.
(This performance is part of the showcase that starts on Monday, March 10 at Valhalla)
Honeyglaze’s second album, Real Deal, and first for Fat Possum, feels like their coming of age moment. The band have taken the foundations laid on their debut and focused it into a mammoth record filled with crashing riffs, devastating vocal performances, and nuanced breakdowns, resulting in a mature, complex record grappling with negative relationships, the mundanity of adult life, and identity.
Hailing from Canberra, Australia, Lucy Sugerman has a sixth-sense for storytelling. Coupled with a gift for crafting assured melodic hooks, it’s the perfect recipe for sweet folky alt-pop that still packs a punch. Possessing an impressive work ethic and dedication to staying true to herself, letting people into her world through tales of her struggles and triumphs in romance and growing up, Lucy’s quirky and genre-defying music is youthful yet poised.
Austin, TX’s Bee Blackwell creates 90s-vibe alternative rock with deeply personal themes and soaring, majestic vocals. She documents her self-exploration in a way that resonates with anyone who has experienced a coming-of-age journey or is going through one. After playing in rock bands through high school and college, Bee began posting her favorite emo and grunge covers on TikTok in 2023. Following several viral moments on the platform, she transitioned to releasing cathartic and heartfelt original songs, quickly captivating a growing audience.
Eric Heideman is a 25-year-old blues musician living in Austin, Texas from Salt Lake City, Utah. Heideman was personally requested to open shows for ZZ Top at Eccles Theatre and Walter Trout and Mike Zito at The State Room. He was a featured performer at the Utah Blues Fest in 2022, 2023, & 2024. He will be a performer on the 2025 Durango Blues Train. He recorded his latest album, “Third Degree Gravity” with Grammy Nominated Victor Wainwright and International Blues Challenge winner JW-Jones.