Politixia
The site for the Grammys once described the SXSW Music Festival as the Olympics of the music world. But drawing a comparison between this iconic Austin festival and anything else may be selling it short because the multi-day gathering goes far beyond a lineup of epic concerts, and marks a true convergence of the sectors of music, tech, film and education.
Really, SXSW, or South by Southwest if you’re not into the whole brevity thing, is a mega celebration of all things creative—backed by a stellar soundtrack and full of special moments like hearing Grammy-winning rapper Killer Mike do his thing on stage, but also popping into his speaker session to hear him talk about the Atlanta barbershop he co-owns with his wife that provides free haircuts, braids and school supplies for children.
So how much does SXSW cost to attend, can you still get tickets, and are any events free? Keep reading for all you need to know about SXSW 2023.
Musical group W. H. Lung performs onstage at the BBC Music Festival Showcase during SXSW on March 19, 2022 in Austin, Texas.
Mike Jordan/Getty Images for SXSW
Who’s performing at SXSW 2023?
SXSW 2023 will be held March 10-19 in Austin. The SXSW Music Festival will take place March 13-18, with hundreds of performers — the vast majority of whom are indie delights — descending on the capital city and taking to the stages of venues that range from legendary to offbeat. High-energy performances are expected this year by psychedelic pop legends The Zombies, New Orleans songstress Ambré and alternative K-pop group Balming Tiger. Def Jam’s Armani White is also set to perform this year, hot off his viral song, “Billie Eilish.” — which has likely been stuck in your head for months if you spend any time on fashion TikTok.
The genre-crossing lineup is curated by SXSW, which was founded in 1987, along with the assistance of record labels, publicists, lifestyle brands, booking agencies and more. The crowds are unique, with an act’s day-one followers often rubbing shoulders with record label A&R reps scouting new talent. SXSW is not only a big deal for music fans, but also international artists who want to grow their U.S. fan base and budding stars who could gain career-changing exposure at such a high-profile music festival, leading to outstanding performances across the board.
SXSW Music Festival organizers have been releasing the 2023 lineup in batches, and it’s likely more performance announcements will trickle in throughout February. (In 2022, Dolly Parton’s performance wasn’t announced until March.) Festivalgoers can see the most up-to-date lineup, organized in alphabetical order, at the SXSW website.
Highlights of the SXSW 2023 lineup include Austin native Dale Watson, Killer Mike, British synth-pop legends New Order, German electronic band Tangerine Dream, Mexico City-based R&B artist Girl Ultra and South Korean rapper Beenzino. The lineup also has plenty of San Antonio-based acts, including 7098, Jay Amari, BabiBoi, Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country, and Yung Mijita.
San Antonio-based musician Garrett T. Capps performs during Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival 2022 at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm on September 24, 2022 in Franklin, Tennessee.
Mickey Bernal/WireImageIn 2022, 1,504 performances were held across 75 stages at SXSW. There were nearly 300 showcases, which means shows performed in one of Austin’s famous live music venues for 30,000 industry reps, 3,000 media members and thousands of fans. SXSW showcasing artist alums include Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers, The National, Post Malone, Alabama Shakes and tons more musical A-listers.
How much does SXSW cost to attend?
A Music Badge is your ticket to all the shows in the SXSW lineup, and, as you likely expected, it’s not exactly cheap. If you buy a SXSW Music Badge online it’ll cost you $895 before tax, with walk-up prices at $995. In addition to the concerts, the pass grants access to music conferences, exhibitions, parties and networking meetups, as well as SXSW Comedy Festival showcases. If seats remain, music badge holders also get “secondary access” to most of the film and TV programming, including screenings and talks.
Other badge types include an all-access Platinum Badge ($1,895); an EDU badge ($6,945); a Film and Television Badge ($1,495); and the SXSW Online Pass ($199) that gives you access to live-streamed events. Group and student discounts are also available.
While you do need to register and pay to attend the SXSW Music Festival, there are several unofficial parties held throughout Austin during the festival and SXSW does offer some free events, including concerts. The free concert lineup currently includes performances by Austin rapper Skylar T, Afro-rock sibling band We Don’t Ride Llamas, neo-soul artist Grace Sorensen, indie rockers Sami & The Engine and The Zombies.
To pump up SXSW Music Festival attendees (or those who are having FOMO), you can get a solid introduction to the musical lineup by throwing on the Official SXSW 2023 Playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. You can also explore the SXSW Showcasing Artists Music Videos playlist on YouTube.
San Antonio electronic musician Claire Rousay performs at SXSW Music Festival 2022 in Austin, Texas.
Shedrick Pelt/Getty Images for SXSWWhat else is happening at SXSW 2023?
SXSW is a big deal for Austin: In 2022, the festival had a reported financial impact of $280.7 million on the city, which was actually a little less than previous annual totals. In addition to the myriad concerts, SXSW also has a lineup of film premieres, keynote sessions, stand-up comedy sets and more. Some highlights on tap for SXSW 2023 include the opening-night film premiere of Paramount’s “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” on March 10, ahead of its March 31 nationwide debut.
Other SXSW movie premieres include “Flamin’ Hot,” a film directed by Eva Longoria that’s centered on the true story of a Mexican-American Frito-Lay janitor who came up with the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Another one making its debut is “Joy Ride,” a comedy from the producers of “Neighbors” and the co-writer of “Crazy Rich Asians.”
SXSW signage is seen during the festival on March 10, 2017 in Austin, Texas.
Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSWThis year’s keynote sessions and featured speakers are as wide-ranging as the musical guests and include, “Unfold the Universe: NASA’s Webb Space Telescope,” with galactic experts showing unseen footage from the largest optical telescope in space. Martin Luther King III will be part of a session called “Voting is a Civil Rights Issue,” while contestants from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will discuss drag’s historical roots and its cultural significance in a session titled, “Don’t be a Drag, Just be a Queen.”
Keynote speakers from the music industry include Killer Mike, Boots Riley and hip-hop legend RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. Nick Jonas will also be among those speaking at SXSW, during a session called “Crushing: The Burden of Diabetes on Patients.” Jonas, who has type 1 diabetes, has long used his platform to raise awareness about the condition. Other featured sessions cover autonomous driving, psychedelics in film and television, how Disney uses storytelling to create happiness, and one looking at how music, entrepreneurship, and independence intersect.
