SXSW London 2026 kicks off today – and it’s not just another tech conference

The famous festival will take place in Shoreditch this week (Pictures: Getty/Metro)

It’s back! SXSW London kicks off today for a week-long extravaganza of tech talks,film premieres and groundbreaking music.

The globally renowned festival swaps its home in Austin,Texas,for Shoreditch in east London until June 6.

Metro has teamed up with SXSW London as media partners for a second year running after its inaugural event in 2025.

Michelle Obama,Ant and Dec,Brian Eno,Ben Cohen,Mel B,Mike Skinner and Jill Scott are some of the big names taking part.

The event is coming back to London from its home in Texas (Picture: Rolling Stone)

There will be live performances from a host of established and emerging artists across the week,including Earl Sweatshirt,Pete Tong,Shame,Tiwa Savage and Infinity Song.

Held across various venues in SXSW London’s campus in Shoreditch,attendees immerse themselves in networking events and roundtables.

As the festival kicks off today,Metro sat down with Katy Arnander,SXSW’s Chief Programming Officer,to hear about everything on offer.

DICE's 25 grassroots artists to see in 2025

Ticketing app DICE has put together a list of their 25 grassroots artists you need to see in London over the next six months.With tickets ranging from free to £27.50,these shows will ensure a great night to suit all tastes and budgets.Click HERE to catch the full list.‘We’ve got a great interaction between different industries and sectors,allowing for really interesting discourse and convergence across industries,’ she said.This year,SXSW is offering an even better programme of speakers from sectors ranging from screen,music,business,and tech.Katy said Shoreditch is the ideal place for SXSW London because it represents a ‘really dynamic community’.Last year’s event was attended by thousands (Picture: Getty)Most of the venues are old Victorian buildings and former factories,which Katy said represent Shoreditch’s history as the ‘beating heart’ of London. The Truman Brewery,Shoreditch Town Hall,the Village Underground,and the Barbican are just some of the locations SXSW London will take over.Katy added: ‘We structure the event around about 15 different tracks,which cover everything from robotics to London 2050 to the future of AI. One theme is the role of AI in new power structures — how AI is changing power dynamics,particularly in media.’One of the biggest topics on everyone’s minds this year is AI. But Katy stressed that SXSW London doesn’t want to just be another ‘tech conference’.She said: ‘AI is revolutionising the way we work across many industries — from drug development to workplace environments,music production,film editing,and special effects.Adem Holness is SXSW London’s head of music and has helped shape this year musical offering (Picture: SXSW London)‘Last year’s conversation around AI was more fear-based — “AI is terrifying,how do we control it?” This year,the conversation is much more about AI as a permanent tool that’s here to stay.’Even as the world continues to pivot towards AI,SXSW London is focused on human connection.She said: ‘People still want to gather together,listen to live music,watch films,and have conversations afterwards.’SXSW London is only in its second year and Katy hopes it becomes a permanent fixture in the UK calendar. ‘One thing I think is especially exciting is London’s location. We’re only a few hours away from Europe,the Middle East,North Africa,and even the US,’ she said.‘That puts us in a unique position to become a truly international hub. We want SXSW London to become a genuinely international meeting point for the convergence of technology,and culture.’Adem Holness,the festival’s head of music,put together this year’s programme with co-curators within the music industry.He told Metro: ‘The ambition for the festival is that we are not just presenting individual artists,but the context that they come in. And as a Londoner born and raised,what I love about London is that you can step out and find yourself in a really distinct community.‘I want each of our showcases in all of these amazing,iconic East London venues that we take over and collaborate with,to be a gateway or a window into one of those different underground music scenes from a different part of the world.’

Metro will be at SXSW London 2026

Metro’s editor-in-chief Deborah Arthurs will be moderating the Last Night a DJ Saved My Life panel at the Truman Brewery on June 4.

Deborah will be joined by Cameron Leslie,co-founder and director of fabric and chair of the Independent Nightlife Taskforce,Charisse Beaumont,CEO of Black Lives in Music,and DJ and artist Jodie Harsh.

From 11.15am,the panel will discuss London’s nightlife scene,the barriers facing venues,and how it can flourish in the future.

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