BBC Introducing Showcase (Mar 13, 2026)

SXSW 2026

Showcasing artists are the beating heart of the SXSW Music Festival. Hundreds of musicians from around the world bring new sounds, big energy, and some truly unforgettable live moments to stages all across Austin. SXSW Music Festival and Conference is all about celebrating international artists and global scenes, with both emerging talent and iconic names from a vast array of genres

This year’s event includes iconic names like Junior H, Lola Young, The All-American Rejects, Gogol Bordello, BigXthaPlug, and Devin the Dude to boundary-pushers like DeVotchKa, Modeselektor, OG Ron C, Joshua Ray Walker, Kaash Paige, Mau P, and so many more.

Our friend Brody wandered the city of Austin, Texas, to bring you his top bands of SXSW 2026.

This year, the annual music festival, downsize the event to a week schedule and with the ongoing deconstruction of the Austin Convention Center (the city is building a new convention center set for late 2028), SXSW still remains in Austin. They’ve even denied the rumor that the festival would relocate to another city:

SXSW 2026 marks our 40th year in Austin. We were born in Austin, and this will always be our home. As SXSW explores new hubs like the Clubhouses and experiments with programming across more of the city during this transition, the Austin Convention Center remains an important part of the event’s history and future.

Brody’s early Top bands of SXSW 2026