South by Southwest (SXSW) is one of the most attended convergence events in the world, drawing over 300,000 participants to Austin each March across music, film, and interactive technology tracks. The Interactive track - focused on technology, AI, startups, and digital media - has grown into a major event in its own right, with hundreds of sessions, keynotes from industry leaders, and an expo floor showcasing emerging technology. Austin is well set up for an event of this scale, with the Austin Convention Center serving as the anchor for conference programming and thousands of hotel rooms within walking distance downtown. The city comes fully alive during SXSW week, with unofficial events, meetups, and showcases running alongside the official programme across venues throughout the city.
Venue
Austin Convention Center
500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
🔗 View full venue details
Our picks for South by Southwest attendees
A curated selection of hotels chosen for location, value, and fit for conference travellers.
Hampton Inn & Suites Austin Downtown
200 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
Reliable three-star a short walk from the Convention Center, with complimentary breakfast included. The best value option in the downtown core for...
Hilton Austin
500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
Connected directly to the Austin Convention Center via skywalk, making it the most convenient option for conference attendees. Full-service four-star with solid...
Hyatt Regency Austin
208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Full-service four-star on the south bank of Lady Bird Lake, about a 15-minute walk from the Convention Center across the Congress Avenue...
JW Marriott Austin
110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
The tallest hotel in Austin, a 34-floor luxury property in the heart of downtown with a rooftop pool and multiple dining options....
Marriott Austin Downtown
304 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
Well-located four-star steps from the Convention Center and Rainey Street, with a rooftop pool overlooking the Colorado River. A strong mid-range choice...
South by Southwest 2026 — Austin, TX, USA
Related reading
-
CVPR 2026 Denver: Travel Guide and Where to Stay
The IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition returns to Denver fo...
-
ICLR 2026 Rio de Janeiro: Travel Guide and Where to Stay
The International Conference on Learning Representations heads to South America for 202...
-
AAAI 2027 Montreal: Travel Guide and Where to Stay
The AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence returns to Montreal in February 2027, ru...