SXSW 2026
LaKeith Stanfield, Keke Palmer in ensemble cast of SXSW 2026 opening film
Director Boots Riley, known for Sorry To Bother You, returns to South by Southwest in an important capacity for 2026.
South by Southwest (SXSW) is getting ready for 2026 and has announced one of its most important lineup details: the opening night film. I Love Boosters, featuring an ensemble cast, will open the 2026 Film & TV Festival with its world premiere March 12. The rest of the film festival runs through March 18.
I Love Boosters is directed by filmmaker Boots Riley, who is also known for the 2018 film Sorry to Bother You and the 2023 series I'm a Virgo. The big and buzzy cast features Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore.
According to a press release, audiences can expect a "mind-bending story" about a group of professional shoplifters, the Velvet Gang, who set their sights on a ruthless "fashion maven." The release remains as vague as possible: "Revealing any more than that would do a disservice to the SXSW opening night crowd..."
This is only Riley's second original feature film. He first became known in music, playing with The Coup and the Street Sweeper Social Club with Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello. His first film, which also starred LaKeith Stanfield, was met with notably good reviews. Writing for RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico called it "an adrenalin-shot of a comedy and a fearless dissection of identity politics, corporate malevolence, and the American tendency to look the other way when confronted with horror."
Of course, opening night films can be hard to get into, but technically anyone with a Film & TV or Platinum Badge ($825 and $1,495, respectively) can attend if they commit early enough. There will also be an opening party that both types of badgeholders are invited to attend. Badges are available now at sxsw.com.
"Boots has created another wildly original and boundary-pushing vision that's deliciously unpredictable," said Film & TV VP Claudette Godfrey in the release. "We can’t wait for our audience to be sucked into his singular, subversive world where razor-sharp social commentary meets fearless, surreal storytelling and eye-popping imagery—all powered by a ridiculously stacked cast of some of the most talented actors on the planet."
It sounds like I Love Boosters — if it is as unique as they say — may follow a similar trajectory to the cult hit Everything Everywhere All At Once, which famously premiered at the festival in 2022 and later won seven Oscars. The opening film in 2025 was Another Simple Favor, a somewhat unenthusiastically received effort that was blunted by lawsuits involving co-star Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who worked together on another film around the same time.
I Love Boosters already has a distribution deal set up, and will hit theaters May 22, 2026.
DIIV's set was moody, but propulsive thanks to strong bass lines.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Zachary Cole Smith can always be counted on for a nostalgic 'fit.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Starcleaner Reunion singer Jo Roman keeps the beat.Photo by Brianna Caleri
From the looks of it, no one had a better time onstage than Wayne Coyne, frontman of the Flaming Lips.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The tinsel whip was one of many props.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Flaming Lips are known for touring with huge inflatables.Photo by Brianna Caleri
A joyful crowd reacts to being blasted with confetti during the Flaming Lips' set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Ty Segall was king of the guitar jams.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Segall's painted jeans were probably the most unique fashion statement all weekend.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Psych Fest uniform: Earthy shorts and calf tattoos.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Thomas Attar Bellier of Al-Qasar plays a beautifully adorned electric saz.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The more mics, the better for Al-Qasar.Photo by Brianna Caleri
A closer look at the saz.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Lyrics in Arabic brought extra gravitas to the set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
How's that for a desert hallucination?Photo by Brianna Caleri
New Candys guitarist Emanuele Zanardo puts a physical flourish in his playing.Photo by Brianna Caleri
A portal opens...Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Black Angels interrupted the technicolor parade for a largely black-and-white set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Black Angels bassist Misti Hamrick-French basks in the cold glow of a strobe light.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Dumbo Gets Mad reminds us that Italians just get fashion.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Guitarist Luca Bergomi gets in on bassist Ivan Torelli's shot.Photo by Brianna Caleri
LA LOM bassist Jake Faulkner captures the sun.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Guitarist Zac Sokolow danced for the whole set, which happened to be on his birthday.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Faulkner's grandstanding added flavor to the show, which ultimately didn't need psychedelic visuals.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Faulkner's howls cut through the air, hardly amplified.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Trish Toledo paid homage to mothers and couples in her romantic set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Not a practical shoe for a rainy weekend. We salute her sacrifice for fashion.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Thee Sacred Souls closed out the festival with a brass section.Photo by Brianna Caleri
This backup singer was exquisitely styled in blue.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Singer Josh Lane snapped a photo of an adoring audience. See you next time, Josh.Photo by Brianna Caleri