The South by Southwest festival is expanding to London in June, 2025.
The SXSW brand, which originated in Austin, Texas almost four decades ago, has grown to 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, and the debate and discussion of challenging issues including AI, climate change, politics and society.
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Since 1987, SXSW has hosted leading speakers and participants across a multitude of disciplines, including Christiane Amanpour, Deepak Chopra, Mark Cuban, Melinda Gates, Dave Grohl, Sadiq Khan, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Steven Spielberg, Dr. Lisa Su, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Tilda Swinton, Taika Waititi, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Webb, Michelle Yeoh, and Mark Zuckerberg.
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SXSW also provided early showcases for musical acts including Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran.
“As a life-long fan of SXSW I truly believe that it’s more than an event – it’s a movement, a platform where the world’s greatest minds, musicians and motivators come to share their passion and their vision of the future,” 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 and we will be working hard to ensure that opportunities for learning, employment and community uplift 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, renowned as a vibrant centre for creativity and technological innovation, as well as for its diversity, energetic youth culture, global 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 the most vibrant cities in Europe,” said Jann Baskett, Co-President and Chief Brand Officer of SXSW. “We look forward to forming 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 am delighted to welcome SXSW to London for the first time ever – confirming our place at the heart of Europe’s tech and creative sectors and as a global capital of culture.
“When I was part of SXSW in Austin in 2018, I saw first-hand the electric atmosphere of innovation SXSW creates and I can’t wait to be part of it again. This is a historic opportunity for London to once again bring the world’s most exciting talent together as part of our mission to build a better and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Added Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer: “Festivals have been a vital part of British culture for decades and a key part of the reason why the UK is known the world over for creative excellence.
“From film and TV 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 across these sectors and demonstrate why the UK’s creative industries are the envy of the world.”