South by Southwest® (SXSW®) today announced new Featured Sessions for the 2026 Film & TV and Innovation Conferences. The 40th edition of SXSW takes place March 12-18, with three conferences and more than 600 sessions on the most important topics for creatives and leaders across industries.

“From the raw, intentional ‘manifesting’ of Jamie Lee Curtis and the world-building mastery of Vince Gilligan, to the disruptive tech visions of Carl Pei and The Hon. Michelle K. Lee, this year’s speakers prove that the boldest ideas come from those willing to challenge the status quo,” said Greg Rosenbaum, SVP of Programming for SXSW. “With three distinct conferences—Innovation, Music and Film & TV—SXSW is the only place you can hear from trailblazing founders, experts pushing the boundaries of medicine, and legendary television showrunners, all in one place.”

Film & TV Conference Featured Sessions

SXSW has added the following Featured Sessions to the Film & TV Conference program:

  • Albuquerque Aftermath: From Breaking Bad to Pluribus—Welcome to Albuquerque, home of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and now Apple TV’s Pluribus! Creator Vince Gilligan will be joined by star Rhea Seehorn, composer Dave Porter, costume designer Jennifer Bryan, producer Trina Siopy and President of Sony Pictures Television Studios Katherine Pope to explore the collaborative process behind some of television’s most acclaimed series.
  • A Waste of Time with Larry David and Jeff Schaffer—In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Larry David and Jeff Schaffer have collaborated with Higher Ground to create a historical sketch comedy series debuting on HBO this summer. In conversation with LA Times’ Lorraine Ali, they will discuss their process and share a sneak peek of never-before-seen footage from the new show.
  • Cast and Creators on HBO’s ROOSTER—Join series co-showrunners Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, executive producer and series star Steve Carell, and cast members Danielle Deadwyler and Charly Clive, for a conversation about the making of their new HBO Original comedy series from Warner Bros. Television.
  • Jamie Lee Curtis. If Not Now, When, If Not Me, Who? Pivoting and Manifesting!—The Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, and activist Jamie Lee Curtis breaks down the philosophies that have fueled her decorated career: navigating transition, embracing reinvention, and creating your own opportunities.

Innovation Conference Featured Sessions

SXSW has added the following Featured Sessions to the Innovation Conference program:

  • A Conversation with Nothing’s CEO and Co-Founder Carl Pei—Join Carl Pei for a wide-ranging conversation about where the tech industry is heading in 2026, and why Nothing is on a mission to make tech for the next generation. Pei will reflect on how the consumer tech industry became closed and predictable, why the next era will require a different mindset, and some of the biggest shifts facing the industry.
  • The Guardian in Conversation with Mahmoud Khalil on the Cost of Dissent—When Mahmoud Khalil was nearly deported for his advocacy, his life as a Palestinian student and soon-to-be father were upended. Khalil will connect virtually with The Guardian’s US Editor Betsy Reed and Baher Azmy, Legal Director of the Center of Constitutional Rights, for an unflinching conversation on the personal and political stakes of resistance.
  • Ibogaine in America: The Parable of Our Time—Ibogaine is a powerful African psychedelic that may hold revolutionary potential to transform the lives of millions facing addiction and trauma, including veterans. Marcus Luttrell, Dr. Gul Dolen, Bryan Hubbard, and former Texas Governor Rick Perry will discuss the grassroots fight for U.S. medicalization.
  • Real-World Impact of AI: Opportunities, Risks and Intellectual Property Oh My!—Explore the promise and perils of AI with The Hon. Michelle K. Lee, founder and CEO of Obsidian Strategies and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Lee will share how AI is being used to drive efficiency, augment creativity and increase revenues for businesses, creators, and more.

For more on the Featured Sessions announced today, and all of SXSW’s programming, visit the schedule here.

Reservations

New for SXSW 2026, plan ahead and book a Reservation in advance to select Conference sessions, Film & TV Festival screenings, Music Festival showcases, and Comedy festival showcases.

Reservations come with all SXSW Badges: 3 reservations per day with Platinum, and 2 per day with Innovation, Music and Film & TV badges. Mentor Sessions and Workshops do not count against daily limits.

Reservations for Platinum badge holders open Thursday, February 19th at 9:00 AM CT. Reservations for Innovation, Music and Film & TV open Thursday, February 26th at 9:00 AM CT.

When your Reservation window opens, use the web schedule or SXSW GO app to reserve.

Events are open to badgeholders with and without Reservations. Reservations are venue-based and account for a portion of the room size. If you are not able to secure a Reservation for an event, join fellow badgeholders in the walk-up lines.

Community Service Awards

The SXSW Community Service Awards honor individuals and organizations for their dedication to fostering positive community impact. Each honoree receives a grant and complimentary entry to SXSW. For 2026, SXSW is proud to honor the following recipients:

  • HousingWorks Austin—Awais Azhar is the Executive Director of HousingWorks Austin, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase the supply of affordable housing in Austin by providing research, education, advocacy and thoughtful, workable affordable housing policy recommendations. Azhar is committed to ensuring those most in need have access to safe and affordable housing.
  • Last Prisoner Project—As a dedicated social justice advocate and co-founder of the Last Prisoner Project, Mary Bailey leads the fight to release every cannabis prisoner and support their reentry into society. Bailey’s goal is to rectify the injustices of prohibition and inspire a more socially conscious cannabis industry where no one remains behind bars for the plant, and has helped the non-profit save over 360 years of prison time and distribute millions in direct aid.
  • The Bell—Co-Founder and Executive Director Taylor McGraw has grown The Bell from a podcast project into a nationally recognized leader in youth-led journalism, shifting the organization’s student reporting from the classroom directly to the halls of power. Beyond producing impactful youth-led storytelling, McGraw is a driving force for systemic change in journalism education, and is now scaling this mission through the Jackson Youth Newsroom, a program focused on building a new generation of civic-minded journalists in the Deep South.
  • Vision Maker Media—As President and CEO of Vision Maker Media, award-winning executive producer Francene Blythe-Lewis leads the longest-running Native American media organization, a cornerstone of Indigenous public broadcasting. Blythe-Lewis works to expand the thematic range and contemporary visibility of Native stories in public media, build durable Indigenous media infrastructure, and ensure Native stories are created by Native people.
  • DAWA—Jonathan ‘Chaka’ Mahone is a visionary storyteller, one-half of the award-winning hip hop duo, Riders Against the Storm, and founder of DAWA, a safety net for People of Color that are experiencing short term life crisis. Through its mission of giving to the givers—musicians, artists, social workers, teachers, healing practitioners, and service industry workers of color—DAWA (Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action) has directly invested over a half million dollars in this group over the last 6 years.

About SXSW
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is known worldwide for conferences and festivals that celebrate the convergence of technology, film and television, music, education, comedy and culture. The annual event serves global professionals through sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and networking that consistently generates unexpected discoveries when diverse communities come together. SXSW 2026 runs March 12-18 in downtown Austin, preceded by SXSW EDU March 9-12. Learn more at sxsw.com.

SXSW continues to connect creative communities around the world through its flagship event in Austin and SXSW London, which launched in 2025—reflecting SXSW’s commitment to fostering meaningful exchange across culture, technology, and creativity.

SXSW 2026 Driven by Rivian.