London has been chosen as the home for Europe’s South by Southwest Festival, bringing together creativity and technology to form a global meeting place of idea sharing.

The SXSW London event sees six days (from 2–7 June 2025) of music, film screenings, talks, live performances, immersive art, and fashion in a conference and festival happening across Shoreditch, where pretty much everyone is a creative. The perfect home.

Tickets for SXSW London range from a full platinum experience to music passes and weekend tickets.

SXSW began in 1987 in Austin, Texas, and it’s where Billie Eilish first performed, James Blunt and John Mayer got discovered, and Stormzy launched his US tour. The festival saw the film debut of Bridesmaids, and it’s where Barack Obama made a keynote speech – to name but a few of its past highlights. We can only imagine what SXSW London has in store for its first-ever event. Oh wait…

As well as hosting speakers such as Idris Elba, Gillian Anderson, and Jenn Nkiru, these are the SXSW London moments you won’t want to miss.

Sounds of SXSW

Shoreditch Town Hall will host The House of R&B for the entire week, highlighting emerging voices from both the UK and internationally.

The series kicks off with Notion, presenting BRIT Award-winning artist Mabel, followed by Soul Surge spotlighting Sasha Keeble, while The Blues Project showcases GRAMMY-nominated NAO.

Also on the schedule, experience work from over 100 showcase acts, the Caribbean Music House is taking over Strongrooms, and you can soul along with Sienna Spiro

presented by Cloud X.

There will also be a series of showcases spotlighting queer music, featuring platforms such as Gay Times, Queer Alt Music, Wraith, Sounds Queer, Trans Voices and Queer Ass Folk.

With lots more music happening across three days of the festival, be ready to explore a host of new tunes and underground scenes.

When? Dates vary | Full music schedule

Screen Festival

For film buffs looking to delve into the festival, the SXSW London Screen Festival is all about new movies, curated by a team of pro programmers, alongside music videos, upcoming series, XR experiences, and immersive works.

You can watch shorts, documentaries, narrative, music videos, and a series of films covering every genre from heartwarmers to the eerie and weird.

As part of the schedule, the Screen Festival is also hosting conversations with the talented people in front of and behind the camera, to explore where storytelling is headed next.

When? Dates vary | Full film schedule

The Lionesses Effect: 20 Years in Women’s Football

On your ’ed! It’s a celebration of women’s football. To mark 20 years since BBC Sport broadcast the 2005 UEFA European Women’s Euro tournament from England, and on the eve of the 2025 competition, where the Lionesses will defend their Euro Champions title, BBC Studios and Gabby Logan will look back at the journey women’s football has been on.

From misogynistic attitudes of the past to selling out stadiums, the panel will look at how changes in broadcast coverage, physical and digital fan experiences, and brand partnerships have moved the dial.

When? 2 June 2025, 10.55 am | The Lionesses Effect

How is East London Creating a Blueprint for Cultural Transformation?

Arguably the most creative portion of our city, explore East London’s culture and innovation with this panel talk as the speakers explore how the area’s journey is reshaping the way we think about cities.

Featuring speakers from the BBC, V&A, Sadler’s Wells, LCF, and UCL, this session will dive into the opportunities and challenges of creating institutions for the future, the role of community in shaping these spaces, and how to blend heritage with progress.

When? 4 June 2025, 4.10 pm | How is East London Creating a Blueprint for Cultural Transformation?

Music Curation in the Age of AI

We may ChatGPT every question that pops into our head now instead of simply Googling, but how is artificial intelligence changing other habits? Hear from Nico Perez, co-founder and CEO of Mixcloud, on how AI is reshaping discovery, personalisation, and consumption in the music industry.

From globalisation trends to ethical challenges in copyright and licensing, along with moderator Will Page, they will examine the opportunities and pitfalls of algorithm-driven curation. Discover how human creativity and AI can coexist to redefine the soundtracks of our lives.

When? 5 June 2025, 10.15 am | Music Curation in the Age of AI

Beautility: Making Good Choices Desirable

We all want to be a little greener in the choices we make, and that includes our beauty routine and fashion. In this SXSW London fireside chat, Oriele Frank (ELEMIS) and Madeleine Macey (SkyDiamond) join Kate Marlow (Here Design) to discuss how sustainability and desirability intersect in their industries.

They’ll explore how their companies are reshaping the conversation around sustainability, making ethical choices aspirational and impactful.

When? 6 June 2025, 11.40 am | Beautility

Non-Consensual Imagery & Deepfakes: A Global Crisis

The rise of deepfakes has affected everyone from Taylor to Trump, and the non-consensual aspect is even more worrying.

In this conversation event, Nighat Dad, founder of the Digital Rights Foundation, and Rachael Kennedy, UK Fact Check Editor at Reuters, will examine the worldwide impact of non-consensual media, highlighting landmark cases and discussing why this “online” issue extends beyond the keyboard.

When? 3 June 2025, 3.25 pm | Non-Consensual Imagery & Deepfakes

Conquering the Loneliness Epidemic with Hinge

It’s safe to say that the president and chief marketing officer of dating app Hinge, Jackie Jantos, may know a thing or two about engaging audiences. Even if she keeps my hottest matches in Rose Jail.

In this talk, she will share how companies can craft strategies to authentically connect with audiences, as well as how it is to market an app that is “designed to be deleted”. Jackie will also explore how marketing campaigns are more than just awareness, it’s about culture, product innovation, and inclusivity.

When? 2 June 2025, 10.45 am | Conquering the Loneliness Epidemic

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