SXSW is making its way to London
- Text by Huck
- Photography by John Rogers
Since its inception way back in 1987, South by Southwest (SXSW) has become an enduring marker on the Austin cultural calendar. Once a year (pending a global pandemic), this sprawling festival pitches up to offer attendees a carefully curated selection of film, music and technological innovation, acknowledging early on that these three pillars of culture often work hand in glove with one another.
For those UK readers who maybe don’t have the funds to fly out there and see what all the fuss is about, you’ll be glad to hear that a new London-based iteration of the festival is set to kick off in 2025, hoisting the spirit of innovation and knowledge-sharing across the pond for a new, potentially more eclectic audience to enjoy.
London isn’t the first city outside of Austin to have a taste of SXSW, as there has already been a successful Sydney-based offshoot from October of 2023, hence the decision to expand further. The plan is that the festival will occupy spaces in London’s Shoreditch and become the locus for discussions on visual culture in all its many weird and wonderful forms, with special focus on gaming, cinema and music showcases.
The US-centric aspect of the Austin leg of the festival will shift across to create a more European flavour, suggesting that the festival isn’t just about applying the same formula to different locales across the globe. The fact that they have already announced that programmer, author and regular contributor to our sister magazine Little White Lies Anna Bogutskaya has been given the role of Head of Screen, makes us excited for this new celebration of creativity.
SXSW London kicks off in June of 2025.
Enjoyed this article? Follow Huck on Instagram.
Support stories like this by becoming a member of Club Huck.
Latest on Huck
This erotic zine dismantles LGBTQ+ respectability politics
Zine Scene — Created by Megan Wallace and Jack Rowe, PULP is a new print publication that embraces the diverse and messy, yet pleasurable multitudes that sex and desire can take.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey
Los Angeles is burning: Rick Castro on fleeing his home once again
Braver New World — In 2020, the photographer fled the Bobcat Fire in San Bernardino to his East Hollywood home, sparking the inspiration for an unsettling photo series. Now, while preparing for its exhibition, he has had to leave once again, returning to the mountains.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Ghais Guevara: “Rap is a pinnacle of our culture”
What Made Me — In our new series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that have shaped who they are. First up, Philadelphian rap experimentalist Ghais Guevara.
Written by: Ghais Guevara
Gaza Biennale comes to London in ICA protest
Art and action — The global project, which presents the work of over 60 Palestinian artists, will be on view outside the art institution in protest of an exhibition funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
Ragnar Axelsson’s thawing vision of Arctic life
At the Edge of the World — For over four decades, the Icelandic photographer has been journeying to the tip of the earth and documenting its communities. A new exhibition dives into his archive.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai