South By Southwest festival set to take over east London in June 2025 for its first ever European event

SXSW London
(Image credit: SXSW)

South By South West festival, self-identifying as “the world’s leading festival celebrating the convergence of creativity, culture and technology”, is coming to London next summer. 

The festival, which has been staged in Austin, Texas since 1987, and which has a reputation for showcasing the best up-and-coming artists in the music world, in addition to providing unparalleled networking opportunities for the music industry, will take over venues, galleries, clubs and restaurants in Shoreditch, east London for a week in June 2025.

In a press release announcing the event, organisers say that SXSW London will “bring its own distinctive personality, driven by London’s internationally renowned cultural life and creativity, its status as a global meeting place, and its proximity to other major creative and tech centres in Europe.”

“As a life-long fan of SXSW I truly believe that it’s more than an event – it’s a movement, a platform where the world’s greatest minds, musicians and motivators come to share their passion and their vision of the future,” says Randel Bryan, Managing Director of SXSW London.

You may like

Sadiq Khan, newly elected as Mayor of London for a third consecutive term, adds: “I am delighted to welcome SXSW to London for the first time ever – confirming our place at the heart of Europe’s tech and creative sectors and as a global capital of culture.

“When I was part of SXSW in Austin in 2018, I saw first-hand the electric atmosphere of innovation SXSW creates and I can’t wait to be part of it again.  This is a historic opportunity for London to once again bring the world’s most exciting talent together as part of our mission to build a better and more prosperous London for everyone.”

The 2024 staging of SXSW in Austin was boycotted by scores of artists, after it was revealed that the US army and defence contractors which supply weapons to Israel are among its sponsors. 

All 12 Irish bands booked to perform at official showcases withdrew from the festival, with Belfast rap trio Kneecap stating that their decision was taken to “highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the U.S. military who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population.”

“We cannot in good conscience attend an arts festival that has 'The US Army' as a 'Super Sponsor' and and is platforming RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems, the very companies selling the weapons that have murdered 31,000 Palestinians, over 21,000 of them women and children.”

It has not yet been revealed who will be sponsoring the festival's London edition. 

Paul Brannigan
Contributing Editor, Louder

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

Read more
Massive Attack in 2010
“History shows it’s often the combination of art and science that overcomes the greatest challenges we face”: Massive Attack to headline London’s first fully battery-powered festival this summer
Slayer in 2016
Slayer announce two monster UK shows with Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon and more
Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins announce 2025 UK tour including a huge London show at Gunnersbury Park with Skunk Anansie and White Lies
Mystic Festival poster
Mystic Festival is boasting one of 2025's best lineups and one of the most unique and great value metal festival experiences in the world
The Sheepdogs standing in front of a castle
The Sheepdogs have announced a short UK tour - and they may visit some pubs while they're at it
Guns N' Roses on stage
Guns N' Roses, Sex Pistols, Lorna Shore – plus one more day – added to Rock For People 2025
Latest in
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Tony Banks
“You only have to hear the opening sweep to reach for your lighter and wave it in the air”: Tony Banks' greatest Genesis moments
The Horrors
Ghouls Aloud: The Horrors come back from the dead with "a dazzling nocturnal spectacle of sombre reflections and oozing catharsis"
Latest in News
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Bruce Dickinson in 2024 and a painting of William Blake in 1759
“This deluxe edition contains actual soil from the grave of William Blake”: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson is releasing a comic book compilation with dirt from the resting place of one of England’s most famous poets
Steven Wilson in 2015 and Playboi Carti in 2025
“I’ve been touring around indie record stores, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s even heard of Playboi Carti”: Steven Wilson comments on chart battle with superstar rapper