Attending SXSW 2026 for the first time was a unique experience. I’ve heard years of stories from longtime attendees about how everything used to be focused around the convention center and how easy it was to hop from one event to another. This year felt different. Things were much more spread out across downtown Austin, which meant a lot more walking and planning between events. Even so, the energy around the city was buzzing.
These Are My Best Moments at SXSW 2026
Through Spill the ATX, I had the chance to attend several red carpet premieres throughout the week, including Seekers of Infinite Love, Pretty Lethal, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Season 3 of HBO’s The Comeback and the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. The carpets moved quickly, but they were still a fun way to see actors, directors and producers celebrating their projects. A few of my favorite interviews from the week included conversations with Justin Theroux, Lisa Kudrow, Eiza González, Ella Stiller and Millicent Simmonds.
Off the carpet, celebrity sightings are just as fun… around town or on panels, I also spotted John Goodman, Dakota Fanning, Serena Williams, Andy Cohen, Shay Mitchell, Mark Duplass, Rider Strong (pictured below), Billie Lourde, Britt Lower, Maks Chmerkovskiy, Sam Nivola and Colin Jost!
My Biggest Takeaway
One of the biggest takeaways for me, though, happened away from the red carpets. Spill the ATX received special invitations to parties and private events. Those settings created opportunities for relaxed conversations with actors and creators. Being able to speak with people in a more casual environment, without the rush of the carpet, made the experience feel much more personal. A special shoutout to Alexandra Barretto (actress on The Fosters and All American, producer, director, and SXSW Roundtable mentor) for taking the time to chat with me and helping make some of those moments possible.
Of course, there were also a few events I missed that would have been fun to catch, like the Basic carpet, which featured actresses Ashley Park and Leighton Meester. With so much happening at once, it’s impossible to do everything. I also didn’t catch any of the concerts or film premieres or attend as many panels as I would have liked, but the opportunities are abundant!
Best Immersive Experience
One thing SXSW does well is provide immersive experiences. A standout was the Peaky Blinders pop-up bar, which recreated the world of the show in downtown Austin. Even though I’ve never watched the series, stepping into that atmosphere was fun. The space had themed drinks, vintage styling and even offered themed haircuts and tattoos for fans who really wanted to commit to the moment.
Another standout experience was the Paramount+ Lodge, which took over the three-story Clive Bar on Rainey Street. The space was packed with activations tied to some of the platform’s biggest shows, like Landman and Survivor, plus plenty of themed swag. It felt like a photo-op playground for TV fans and a fun break from the packed SXSW schedule.
After five days of film and TV events, I can now confirm that SXSW truly has something for everyone. Whether you’re there for film, television, podcasts, tech/innovation, music, or just the parties, the city becomes a host of creative events. And if this was my first experience, I can only imagine what future years might bring (and the eventual return of the convention center).
