SXSW to host London edition in 2025
The Austin-based arts, digital media and music conference recently launched its first international event in Sydney, Australia
South by Southwest (SXSW) will be heading to the UK in 2025 for a new London edition of the festival and conference.
Based in Austin, Texas, the festival has been running for almost 40 years, traditionally taking the form of a loosely connected series of conferences, events, showcases and more — covering film, interactive media, music and art.
SXSW has confirmed that SXSW London will take place in June 2025 and take place across dozens of venues, galleries and nightclubs in Shoreditch, East London.
Last year, SXSW launched its first international festival in Australia, SXSW Sydney, with the second edition set to take place from October 14 to October 20.
Read this next: 120 artists sign open letter demanding higher pay at SXSW festival
The announcement follows a controversial Austin edition this year, which saw over 100 artists, groups and musical acts withdraw from SXSW over its sponsorship from the US Army and several weapons manufacturers linked to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).
Artists involved in the boycott included the rock duo Lambrini Girls, Ella O’Connor Williams AKA Squirrel Flower and Kneecap.
“In solidarity with the people of Gaza”, Kneecap cancelled all three shows at the festival, writing a statement that they wanted to “highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the U.S. military who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population.”
In response to the boycott, SXSW shared at the time that they “continue to support human rights for all”.
Read this next: 'Pay-to-play' is not OK: Stop the dodgy promoter tactic exploiting young DJs
SXSW also faced criticism during its 2023 edition for the low rates paid to performers and its additional "application fees" — in what many campaigners labelled a "pay to play" scheme.
Due to this, more than 120 musicians signed an open letter to SXSW in conjunction with the Union Of Musicians And Allied Workers (UMAW).
Texas Public Radio announced in June 2023, that wages would be “quietly” increased for 2024, following intervention from performing musicians and the Austin City Council.
Applications to this year’s SXSW saw an increase in pay from solo artists originally on $100 to $150 and bands on $250 increased to $350 — though the original open letter in February 2023 had implored SXSW to pay rates of at least $750 per act.
More details about the SXSW London 2025 will be announced in the coming months.
Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter