SXSW 2026
SXSW's latest announcement includes Steve Carell, local organizers

Steve Carell will take part in a talk about HBO's ROOSTER.
Right on the heels of another Film & TV Festival announcement from South by Southwest (SXSW) we're seeing familiar faces on the other side of the fourth wall. This time, the topic is two conferences: Film & TV and Innovation, which will highlight people known in each sphere as they speak on panels. SXSW and its more than 600 sessions will be held March 12-18.
A press release picks out some of the most notable additions to the lineup, as follows (shortened for brevity):
Film & TV Conference sessions:
- Albuquerque Aftermath: From Breaking Bad to Pluribus — with creator Vince Gilligan, star Rhea Seehorn, composer Dave Porter, costume designer Jennifer Bryan, producer Trina Siopy and President of Sony Pictures Television Studios Katherine Pope.
- A Waste of Time with Larry David and Jeff Schaffer — with [comedian] Larry David, [director] Jeff Schaffer, and LA Times’ Lorraine Ali.
- Cast and Creators on HBO's ROOSTER — with series co-showrunners Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, executive producer and series star Steve Carell, and cast members Danielle Deadwyler and Charly Clive.
- Jamie Lee Curtis. If Not Now, When, If Not Me, Who? Pivoting and Manifesting! — with actor, producer, author, and activist Jamie Lee Curtis.
Innovation Conference sessions:
- A Conversation with Nothing's CEO and Co-Founder Carl Pei — with [consumer electronics brand exec] Carl Pei.
- The Guardian in Conversation with Mahmoud Khalil on the Cost of Dissent — with [Algerian-Palestinian activist/political prisoner] Mahmoud Khalil, The Guardian’s US Editor Betsy Reed and Legal Director of the Center of Constitutional Rights Baher Azmy.
- Ibogaine in America: The Parable of Our Time —with [veteran] Marcus Luttrell, [neuroscience/psychology professor] Dr. Gul Dolen, [CEO of Americans for Ibogaine] Bryan Hubbard, and former Texas Governor Rick Perry.
- Real-World Impact of AI: Opportunities, Risks and Intellectual Property Oh My! — 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).
This year attendees can safeguard their presence at sessions that are important to them by selecting them in advance. Guests with Platinum badges get three reservations per day, while those with Innovation, Music and Film & TV badges get two. Reservations can also be made for comedy shows, and mentor sessions and workshops do not count for daily limits.
Guests will really have to plan ahead for these reservations: they open February 19 and 26 at 9 am for Platinum badge holders and festival badge holders, respectively. They can be made through the web schedule or SXSW GO app.
Today's announcement also contained information about the SXSW Community Service Awards, which are given to local individuals and organizations. This year's recipients (also in SXSW's shortened language) are:
- Awais Azhar, Executive Director of HousingWorks Austin, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase the supply of affordable housing in Austin.
- Mary Bailey, dedicated social justice advocate and co-founder of the Last Prisoner Project, which fights to release every cannabis prisoner and support their reentry into society.
- Taylor McGraw, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Bell. [McGraw is] a nationally recognized leader in youth-led journalism, shifting the organization’s student reporting from the classroom directly to the halls of power.
- Francene Blythe-Lewis, President and CEO of Vision Maker Media, the longest-running Native American media organization, a cornerstone of Indigenous public broadcasting.
- Jonathan 'Chaka' Mahone, 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.
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.

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
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