SXSW 2026

SXSW releases 2026 comedy lineup with Eric André and lots of improv

Eric André and his friends are headed to South by Southwest.

The multi-faceted South by Southwest (SXSW) does things a little differently for each of its festivals, whether it's film competitions, prevalent music showcases, or keynote speakers. The short comedy festival from March 13-16 is no different, and one of its idiosyncrasies — that this lineup is announced all at once — means with this one drop, comedy fans can start planning right away.

Like every other lineup, this one is a bit too long to list everyone, so a press release from SXSW names some fan favorites:

Adam Pally
Bill Burr
BriTANick
Chelsea Peretti
Chloe Radcliffe
Devon Walker
Eric André
Frankie Quiñones
Jake Cornell
Jared Freid
Natasha Leggero
Tina Friml

Another unique feature of the Comedy Festival is that there are no comedy-specific badges. Anyone who has registered at SXSW can attend shows at The Creek and The Cave and at Esther’s Follies. One standout show, the Dropout Improv Show, is only open to Platinum badgeholders and people who purchase tickets independently of SXSW.

The release promises "an unprecedented level of crossover between the comedy lineup and the broader SXSW community this year," referring to other creatives in film, music, and podcasts.

“This year’s lineup celebrates where comedy is headed,” said director of SXSW Comedy Sam Schles. “I’m excited to help shape the next chapter of SXSW Comedy with a renewed focus on impact for both comics and audiences. We’re bringing together the new comedy vanguard and established icons who continue to redefine the craft.”

Carnival Cruise Line, a sponsor for the Comedy Festival, is bringing its own interactive booth and supporting the following events:

ASSSSCAT with the Upright Citizens Brigade
Bombing with Eric André and friends
BriTANicK: dummy with Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher
CHAOS with Chelsea Peretti, Natasha Leggero, and Sabrina Jalees
Comic Relief and The Moth Present: Funny Story
Cracked Comedy Club In Partnership with Netflix’s MATING SEASON
Crowd Control with Dropout, hosted by Jacquis Neal
Dirty Laundry with Dropout, hosted by Lily Du with cocktails by Grant O'Brien
Don't Tell Comedy All Stars in partnership with Deadline
Dropout Improv hosted by Kurt Maloney
Facebook Presents Stand-up Comedy
FOX Entertainment Studios Comedy Showcase Featuring The Dress Up Gang and Friends, Hosted by Bill Burr with Frankie Quiñones, Cory Loykasek, Donny Divanian, Kirk Fox, and Brent Weinbach
Funny Or Die Approved with The Stand Comedy Club, hosted by Pete Lee
Gotham Comedy Showcase with Gotham Comedy Club
My Favorite Lyrics Live with Devon Walker and special guests
Reductress Live!
Staying Alive with Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally
The Anything But BASIC Cabaret with Chelsea Devantez, Ashley Nicole Black, Ashley Park, Leighton Meester, Kandy Muse, and more
The Stand Comedy Club Presents: 10 for 10 Podcast Live at SXSW
The Stand Comedy Showcase with special guests
What Else...What Else...with Michael Cruz Kayne with special guest Chloe Radcliffe

Platinum and Festival Badges ($1,995 or $820-1,395, respectively) are on sale now at sxsw.com. These badges give attendees priority access to certain events. SXSW as a whole runs from March 12-18.

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Everybody Still Wants Some

Glen Powell to attend 10th anniversary of Everybody Wants Some!! in Austin

Photo by Heather Leah Kennedy

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell at a Toast to Texas Film in 2024.

Austin film fans are getting a major dose of nostalgia this spring when Austin Film Society (AFS) rolls out the red carpet for a homegrown favorite. On March 22, AFS Cinema will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Everybody Wants Some!! with a pair of screenings featuring special guests Richard Linklater, Zoey Deutch, and Austin's favorite mascot, Glen Powell himself.

Aside from these bigger names, additional guests are expected to be announced soon.

Released in 2016, the film follows a group of college baseball players navigating their first days of freedom before the start of the semester — a time filled with house parties, locker room bravado, and big dreams.

Shot in Central Texas and infused with Linklater’s signature laid-back charm, the movie has often been viewed as a companion piece to his earlier coming-of-age classic, Dazed and Confused. Over the past decade, it has become a touchstone for fans who appreciate its loose, lived-in performances and affectionate take on youthful self-discovery.

The anniversary event is designed as a full-on celebration. The first screening, a VIP experience, begins with a red-carpet arrival at 4 pm, followed by the film at 5 pm and a live introduction from the evening’s guests. A second showing will follow, with doors opening at 5:30 pm and the film starting at 6 pm.

For AFS, which was founded by Richard Linklater, the event underscores the organization’s long-standing mission to champion Texas storytelling and foster a vibrant local film culture. Fans of Linklater’s work — or anyone eager to relive a very specific sort of college life in 1980 — the event promises a lively night at the movies, complete with plenty of hometown pride and behind-the-scenes stories from the cast. (Yes, including Glen Powell.)

Tickets ($125 for the VIP first screening, $45 for the second screening) will go on sale to the public at noon on Friday, February 27. And no matter which way you go, each viewing will be followed by an in-person Q&A with the filmmaker and attending stars. The 30-year anniversary of Dazed and Confused sold out quickly in 2024, so Austinites who are motivated to attend should try to buy their tickets early.

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