a designer's guide to sxsw
unofficial SXSW 2026 events for designers & creatives in ATX
SXSW is upon us! These are the best events I could find for designers and creatives that don’t have a badge. All of these events are free (but they may fill up and a badge may grant you priority entry).
Thursday 3/12:
📖 2:45-3:20pm – Texas Futures Summit Human Potential Panel @ Palm Venture Studios
✏️ 3–11pm – Made in Austin Showcase + Creative Hackathon @ Zilker Brewing
📖 4:30–5:30pm – Impact Lounge Artists Will Lead the Future of Tech @ The Belmont
Friday 3/13:
🤝 10am–12pm – Austin Pro Creatives Coffee @ Easy Tiger South Lamar
📖 2:30-3pm – ⭐ FuturePIXEL (Day 1/2): Design Identity in the Age of AI w/Joey Zeledon @ Mexic-Arte Museum
📖 4:30-5:30pm – German Haus (Day 2/2): Ecosystem-Building in Creative Technologies Panel @ Speakeasy
Saturday 3/14
🌷 10am-5pm – ⭐ Flatstock Poster Show (Day 2/3) @ Moontower Hall in the Austin Marriot Downtown
📖 11am-5:30pm – ⭐ Americana First, Part Two w/COLLINS & Framer @ Arlyn Studios
✏️ 2–3:30pm – The Light House (Day 2/2): Co-creating Tomorrow: A workshop with the w/Dream Machine Academy @ The Belmont
🤝 5:30-8:30pm – ⭐ Designer Fund & Framer Builders After Hours: Austin Happy Hour @ Codependent Cocktails + Coffee
Sunday 3/15
🌷 1-5pm – Just Southwest of Official w/Good for Nothing Club @ Better Half
📖 1-5pm 1-5pm – Creatorpalooza @ Inn Cahoots
🤝 4-5:30pm – Superhuman Hang @ Antone’s Nightclub
Monday 3/16
📖 1-5pm – ⭐ Wild Minds: A Day of Culture, Connection & Growth @ Umlauf Sculpture Garden
📖 3-3:45pm – New Mexico House: Resilient Innovation: Indigenous Entrepreneurs & Creators, Building the Next Economy @ The Courtyard ATX
📖 3-4pm – Austin LGBT Chamber: Funding, Power, and the Future of Queer Storytelling @ Hotel Indigo's Urban Pour Social
Tuesday 3/17
📖 1:30-2:30pm – Me to We: Designing for the Collective (Day 2/2): One Event. 16 Cities. All of Us. @ 3TEN ACL
🤝 7-9pm – ⭐ Out in Tech Monthly Mixer @ Cheer Up Charlies
Wednesday 3/18
🤝 7pm-12am – Jewls & Gems: Polka Dots vs Stripes Creative Networking Mixer @ Bolm Arts Gallery
This year I am trying to see more music than tech talks. These are some of the musical events I have my eye on this year:
🎵 Music
Thursday 3/12: 7–10pm – Austin Sounds (Day 1/7): Local Music Showcase w/Big Bill @ Lefty’s Day & Night
Friday 3/13: 12–6pm – Friendship Fest w/Team Trust @ Chess Club
Saturday 3/14: 9pm-late – Algo Rave w/Switch Angel & DJ_Dave live coding @ Kingdom Nightclub
Sunday 3/15: 12pm-2am – Might Be Magic: Where Are My Keys @ Cheer Up Charlies
Monday 3/16: 5:30-6pm – British Music Embassy w/Adult DVD @ Palm Door on 6th
Tuesday 3/17: 11-11:40pm – The Haunted Youth @ Hotel Vegas
I add all these events by hand. If you have feedback or want to share something cool happening in ATX, hit me up via email or LinkedIn. Explore more local resources at AustinUX.org.
✌️
Michael Moran