Unlocking Success: Unveiling the Magic of SXSW 2024
Takeaways for Your Next Austin Meeting
Perhaps no Austin event is more hotly anticipated than the annual SXSW Conference and Festivals, held for nine days in March. The world-renowned SXSW draws an international audience of about 300,000 to events held at the Austin Convention Center and in various hotels and venues around the city.
Attendees can join in sessions led by tech thought leaders, watch movie screenings and world premieres with noted filmmakers, see performances by up-and-coming musicians, explore cutting-edge technology in the SXSW Creative Industries Exhibition, and even catch a comedy festival.
Sharpie/Paper Mate Activation at SXSW. Credit Newell Brands.
EXCITING SPONSOR ACTIVATIONS
The very nature of SXSW is collaborative and experiential, so there were plenty of networking opportunities and sponsor activations. Highlights and immersive experiences include Paramount+ returning with The Lodge at Clive Bar on Rainey Street to promote offerings like Mean Girls, Survivor and CBS Sports. Shipt staffers used an oversized shopping cart and branded scooters to deliver giveaway items to attendees.
Parent company Newell Brands partnered with actor Mindy Kaling to showcase two new products — Sharpie Creative Markers and Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Bright! Pens — at Rainey Street bar Icenhauer’s to excite a new generation that may not be familiar with the decades-old brands. Those attending received pens and a drink card, then could use the pens to write postcards to send, or color with the markers on artwork throughout the space.
Audible designed a carnival, featuring a working Ferris wheel, in its activation space to showcase the company’s storytelling. Porsche transformed Brazos Hall to resemble a gas station offering snacks and drinks. Its Route 66-themed “car wash” displayed a Porsche sedan and e-bike. Delta SkyMiles members learned about Delta Sync, which travelers can use to keep track of their inflight entertainment choices at Delta's takeover of Estelle's.
SXSW 2024 Opening Session. Credit Hutton Supancic.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONFERENCES
SXSW is known for presenting a dazzling array of conference tracks that focus on the most important breakthroughs in technology, film, culture, media and music. The belief is that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. Among well over 100 inspiring keynote and featured speakers were were NASA’s Lori Glaze and U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, who were both featured in the opening session.
Conference-goers also attended Q&As with comedian Trevor Noah and actor Kyle MacLachlan, heard actor Mayim Bialik speak about spirituality and well-being, and listened as basketball great Dwyane Wade discussed his entrepreneurial ventures. Other celebrities featured onstage included married actors Kirsten Bell and Dax Shepard, The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, musician John Oates, soccer player Megan Rapinoe, actor Camila Mendes and comedian/actor Lilly Singh.
Innovation inspiration came from Suzy Batiz of Poo-Pourri, Rachel Sipperley of Rent My Wardrobe, Sarah Herrlinger of Apple, Regina Buckley of Hearst Magazines, and scores of others.
Although SXSW is known for covering the trendiest of topics in its sessions, there is a conscious effort to balance the wow factor with practical information that attendees can actually use both on the job and in their daily lives.
SXSW 2025
On the heels of its wildly successful 2024 event, planning is already underway for the 2025 SXSW Conference & Festivals, to be held March 7-15.
After the close of SXSW 2025 and until 2029, expansion work at the Austin Convention Center will cause SXSW to expand its footprint to even more Austin hotels and venues. Learn about how the campus-style events concept works.
Don’t miss SXSW 2025! In the meantime, watch 2024 highlights on demand.