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SXSW® 2025: The essential guide for creative professionals

This year’s SXSW® takes place between March 7–15, 2025. Learn what’s going on, how to make your way through the stacked program, and what Epidemic Sound’s cooking up at the event.

Epidemic Sound

Feb 24, 2025 • 9 min read

SXSW® 2025: The ultimate creative playground

South by Southwest (SXSW®) has long been a melting pot for creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Since its birth in 1987, the Austin, Texas-based event has hosted landmark premieres, panels, and performances across the arts and tech scene.

What other event puts the seventh Fast & Furious film on the same pedestal as Barack Obama, Lana Del Ray, Dolly Parton, the Zelda franchise, and Grumpy Cat? SXSW® matters to creators, brands, and the entertainment industry because it’s often ground zero for the next big thing.

This year’s no different. There’s the core Music Festival, Film & TV Festival, and the Comedy Festival, plus a treasure trove of conference tracks covering AI to psychedelics, gaming to fashion & beauty, and everything in between.

SXSW® has built an ecosystem for you to explore, whether you want to feel inspired by some of the world’s most brilliant thinkers, network with key players in the artificial intelligence field, or just laugh until your ribs crack.

Epidemic Sound is committed to supporting creativity across all industries. That’s why this year, we’re a proud sponsor of the SXSW® Film & TV Festival. Check out how to connect with us later in this article, and keep reading for our tips for the event.

How to make the most of your SXSW® experience: 5 top tips

This isn’t a one-day punk festival — SXSW® is a nine-day extravaganza, expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors. If that feels overwhelming, we’ve got your back. Here are five tips to bear in mind when you’re on site.

1. Set clear goals before you arrive

You’re looking at more than 450 panel sessions. Countless activations. Live performances, screenings, side-quests — you can’t feasibly do it all, and that’s fine. Before you arrive, try and pin down the key sessions, activations, and industry leaders you want to engage with. Pencil them firmly into your calendar, build your schedule around that, and try to leave a little space for spontaneous sessions.

If you’re attending with a team, there’ll always be some push and pull. Try and attend the must-see, sector-specific sessions together, but expect a little divide-and-conquer if you want to cover more ground. Establishing a Slack or WhatsApp group beforehand makes this process much more manageable, and allows for real-time updates once you’re on the ground in Austin.

2. Network effectively

Naturally, you could spend all of your time at SXSW® finding new films, music, and tech — the quantity and quality on offer is unbelievable. But remember who else attends this event: people like you. Like-minded professionals, prospective clients, and future collaborators are all at arm’s length.

Downloading the official SXSW® GO app is a solid starting point. Once you’ve linked your badge in-app, you can see who’s attending specific events — search by names, roles, and companies. You can also send direct messages and receive curated recommendations.

Beyond the standard sessions, consider networking events and afterparties. Epidemic Sound is hosting the Film & TV Intermission Party on March 12, immediately after the Film and TV Festival winners are announced. Who knows who you’ll meet?

3. Explore the exhibitions

If you have the time, don’t limit your experience to panels, keynotes, and screenings — SXSW® is also famous for its groundbreaking, interactive exhibitions. Research what’s on offer before you arrive, and you could be one of the first people to experience a game-changing product, app, or service.

4. Attend cross-industry sessions

SXSW® is where the future of content, marketing, and entertainment takes form. Regardless of your sector, sessions on hot-button topics like AI, audience engagement, and the evolution of storytelling will be more than worth your time.

Likewise, if your schedule permits, attend crossover panels. Think of topics like music, gaming, and branding, for example — they all intersect across a bunch of areas. Dipping into all of these topics will help you better understand emerging entertainment trends across the board.

5. Take time out to recharge your batteries

SXSW® is incredible, but even for seasoned pros, it can be intense. A full schedule is great, but it can quickly become overwhelming — carve out some time to relax, reflect, and recharge. Absorb the amazing art you’ve experienced, the rich conversations you’ve had, the thought-provoking keynotes you’ve seen, and get back out there once you’ve caught your breath.

We’ve got you covered there, too. From March 7–11, 10 am–5 pm, Epidemic Sound will host the Filmmaker’s Lounge at the Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel. Discover our immersive and interactive cinematic universes, experience the power of storytelling through sound, and find out how you can find the perfect sound for your story. Or, just say hi — we can’t wait to see you there.

→ Register now

What to look out for at SXSW® 2025: Our 12 top picks

If you’re struggling to narrow down your schedule or firm up the final few slots, we’ve got just the thing you need.

Check out our 12 top picks for creative professionals across the event, from hotly-tipped world premieres to legendary keynotes and wildly interactive experiences.

Film premieres

1. Another Simple Favor

When: March 7, 5:30 pm–7:30 pm
Where: Paramount Theatre
Why it’s essential: The Paramount Theatre officially opens for SXSW® with Another Simple Favor. Amazon Studios’ murder-mystery sequel double-bills Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in what looks to be a darkly funny, sun-drenched romp to rival Glass Onion.

2. Death of a Unicorn

When: March 8, 5:30 pm–7:14 pm
Where: Paramount Theatre
Why it’s essential: A24’s become one of the hottest names in cinema over the past decade, producing and distributing game-changing features and Oscar-winning triumphs. Death of a Unicorn arrives unbelievably hyped, starring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, and a horror-fantasy-thriller-comedy premise that throws genre in the trash.

Storytelling and entertainment

3. The Future of World-Building at Disney

When: March 8, 11:30 am –12:30 pm
Where: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom D
Why it’s essential: Who better to discuss the future of storytelling than, well, one of the world’s most famous storytelling names? Disney Entertainment’s co-chairman and Disney Experience’s chairman open their The Future of World-Building panel to special guests, hashing out the potential of experiential storytelling.

4. Sustaining Fandom: Why K-Entertainment is Here to Stay

When: March 10, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Where: Austin Convention Center, Room 17AB
Why it’s essential: From Squid Game to BTS, right down to niche content creators and cultural moments — Korean entertainment has never been more popular. But how do brands and creatives keep that buzz alive? The Sustaining Fandom panel unknots that question, featuring contributors from Forbes, DIVE Studios, and more.

Podcast, video, and audio

5. How Video Enhanced the Audio Star

When: March 8, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Where: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom B
Why it’s essential: How Video Enhanced the Audio Star does as the name suggests, detailing the relationship between video and audio. Panelists include YouTube’s head of podcasting, gearing the discussion towards the creative and strategic opportunities held within the video podcasting space.

6. Building Shows That Extend Beyond Audio

When: March 10, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Where: Austin Convention Center, Room 6AB
Why it’s essential: In a similar vein, Building Shows That Extend Beyond Audio investigates the gaps between social, audio, and video platforms. Three podcast executives unpick the pod phenomenon alongside a Wall Street Journal reporter, discussing new ways to drive audience engagement and expand their brands.

Brand fandom

7. Brand Activations Abroad: How to Engage New Audiences

When: March 7, 4 pm–5 pm
Where: JW Marriott, Salon FG
Why it’s essential: Brands are still debating “global vs. local” in 2025, and Brand Activations Abroad addresses this. Industry leaders from L’Oreal, AnyRoad, and Itaú Unibanco explain how brands of all shapes and sizes can use localized content to engage and inspire international audiences.

8. Unleashing Brand Fandom: Turning Fans into Advocates

When: March 9, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Where: JW Marriott, Salon FG
Why it’s essential: Social media has made fans more integral to the content creation process than ever before, but what does that mean for said brands? Using new research from the NRG, Unleashing Brand Fandom has senior members of the NBA, Paramount Pictures, and more examine how brands and fans can make magic.

9. The Art of Creating Memorable Fan Journeys

When: March 9, 4 pm–5 pm
Where: Austin Convention Center, Room 9ABC
Why it’s essential: Sports have always been about more than the atmosphere on the ground, in the stadium — technology has made fan experiences accessible for everyone. The Art of Creating Memorable Fan Journeys brings several sports executives together to address how storytelling makes these fan experiences shine.

Entertainment and brand experiences

10. Entertain or Die: Entertainment First Brand Building

When: March 10, 2:30 pm–3:30 pm
Where: JW Marriott, Salon FG
Why it’s essential: The media landscape is crowded — there’s no two ways about it. Entertain or Die platforms senior creatives from fresh, buzzy brands like Duolingo and Liquid Death to break down their success. Accompanied by new research, this panel provides the building blocks for getting brands heard above the noise.

11. The Future of Brand Experience Design: How Brands Will Be Lived, Felt and Shared

When: March 9, 4 pm–5 pm
Where: JW Marriott, Salon 6
Why it’s essential: The Future of Brand Experience takes storytelling one step further, suggesting that the next frontier is “story-living.” Backed up by a new report, senior members of SoHo Experiential and The Tabboo Group flesh out the future of experiential branding.

Brand and creator partnerships

12. A Modern Blueprint for Creator Partnerships

When: March 9, 2:30 pm–3:30 pm
Where: Austin Convention Center, SXSW® Expo – Next Stage – Exhibit Hall
Why it’s essential: JBL dives into its partnerships with Forbes’ 30 Under 30 members, and how they’re building A Modern Blueprint for Creator Partnerships. Alongside AdWeek’s Colin Daniels, they reveal strategies brands can use to understand, leverage, and contribute to the creator economy.

Where to find Epidemic Sound at SXSW® 2025

Epidemic Sound helps brands and creators find their perfect soundtrack. We give them the tools, knowledge, and catalog to sculpt immersive storytelling experiences and drive audience engagement across countless formats and platforms.

We’re taking that attitude straight to Austin, Texas. Here’s how you can connect with us during the event.

1. Musical storytelling grows gaming fandoms: Watch our CEO in action

When: March 11, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Where: Fairmont, Manchester GG
Why it’s essential: As part of the Game Industry track, our CEO, Oscar Höglund, takes part in a panel discussion: Supercharging Fandom in Gaming with Music and Storytelling. Together with Epidemic Sound artist Linda Stenmark, Timothy Salmon of CatFace/Aphmau, and self-professed “Mr. Angry Birds,” Ben Mattes, Oscar peels back the fan/game-publisher relationship. Where does music fit in, how do artists benefit, and what does it take to create the ultimate fan experience?

2. Experience the Filmmaker’s Lounge

When: March 7–11, 10 am–5 pm
Where: Stephen F Austin, Capital Ballroom
Why it’s essential: We’ll unlock the full power of sound and transport the world’s biggest brands and content producers to another time and place. Meet the Epidemic Sound team and explore extraordinary cinematic worlds in our Filmmaker’s Lounge.

3. Party with us and celebrate

When: March 12, 10 pm–1 am
Where: ZACH Theatre
Why it’s essential: Yep, we’re hosting the Film & TV Intermission Party. Celebrate the Film & TV Festival winners, dance the night away, and lose yourself in our immersive sound-and-visual experience, complete with a blazing DJ set from Epidemic Sound artist, The Yard Woman.

SXSW® is what you make it. There’s never enough time to see and do everything you want, and that’s part of the magic: no other event really compares.

As sponsors of the Film & TV Festival, we’re proud to stand beside the incredible brands, artists, and leaders who give SXSW® the unique, trailblazing spirit it’s manifested for more than three decades.

We tell our clients, customers, and partners that there’s a sound for every story. What’s yours?