SXSW is making its way to London
Since its inception way back in 1987, South by Southwest (SXSW) has become an enduring marker on the Austin cultural calendar. Once a year (pending a global pandemic), this sprawling festival pitches up to offer attendees a carefully curated selection of film, music and technological innovation, acknowledging early on that these three pillars of culture often work hand in glove with one another.
For those UK readers who maybe don’t have the funds to fly out there and see what all the fuss is about, you’ll be glad to hear that a new London-based iteration of the festival is set to kick off in 2025, hoisting the spirit of innovation and knowledge-sharing across the pond for a new, potentially more eclectic audience to enjoy.
London isn’t the first city outside of Austin to have a taste of SXSW, as there has already been a successful Sydney-based offshoot from October of 2023, hence the decision to expand further. The plan is that the festival will occupy spaces in London’s Shoreditch and become the locus for discussions on visual culture in all its many weird and wonderful forms, with special focus on gaming, cinema and music showcases.
The US-centric aspect of the Austin leg of the festival will shift across to create a more European flavour, suggesting that the festival isn’t just about applying the same formula to different locales across the globe. The fact that they have already announced that programmer, author and regular contributor to our sister magazine Little White Lies Anna Bogutskaya has been given the role of Head of Screen, makes us excited for this new celebration of creativity.
SXSW London kicks off in June of 2025.
Enjoyed this article? Follow Huck on Instagram.
Support stories like this by becoming a member of Club Huck.
You might like
Sounds of South By Southwest
SXSW live music roundup — Huck's pick of the best live acts from the House of Vans SXSW stage at the Mohawk, featuring BadBadNotGood + Ghostface Killah, Ceremony, Brother Ali and more.
A mind-expanding adventure at Austin's Levitation festival
Bags full of good times — Photographer Greg Holland hit the road for a pilgrimage to the altar that is Austin Psychefest.
Inside the grunge golden age with Hole’s former bassist
My ’90s Rock Photographs — Melissa Auf der Maur’s new photobook is a sprawling visual memoir of her time at the heart of the US scene, from Tinker to The Smashing Pumpkins.
How the Home Counties took over UK rap
Landmark new exhibition is celebrating 50 years of female punk
God Save the Queens — The Museum of Youth Culture is bringing together rare photography, archive material and a one-night-only supergroup featuring members of X-Ray Spex, The Slits and The Raincoats.
Cristale: “Living in London taught me to be grateful”
What Made Me – In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Brixton-born rapper Cristale.
