🎯SXSW Free Events Guide (2024) Big List Of Free SXSW Events

SXSW Free 2023 Events

SXSW is expensive. There are ways to get free SXSW badges. But if you don’t want to earn a free badge, or pay for a pass, then you can still attend various SXSW shows. The trick is to know which SXSW events are free.

We will update the list as we discover new free events! Let us know if we missed any!

You may need to make reservations in advance for some of these! As with most free things, the hosts of free SXSW events generally have a motive. So be sure to look into the expectations of the event you are interested in. It’s usually networking.

Related: How To Go To SXSW For Free + SXSW Student Discounts

2023 SXSW Free Events That Span Multiple Days

• FREE: The Future of Food 2023 – Event Series (1400 Lavaca St 1400 Lavaca Street Austin, TX 78701)
• Capital Factory House @ SXSW 2023 – March 10-14. (Capital Factory 701 Brazos Street Austin, TX 78701)
• Meet Adform At SXSW – Brand Innovators and Brisket: Schedule a meeting with Adform, and score free BBQ and Mac & Cheese (Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue, 401 West 2nd Street)
• Amazon Ads – March 10-12. Multiple events.
• Tulsa House at SXSW 2023 – March 10-11. (Augustine 86 Rainey Street Austin, TX 78701)
• Fast Company Grill At SXSW – March 10-13. (Cedar Door Bar & Grill, 201 Brazos St, Austin)

March 10, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• Xebec’s 2023 SXSW Kickoff Party & Garage Sale (Xebec Team Office 500 San Marcos Street #Ste 101 Austin, TX 78702)
  • Exclusive deals on all Xebec Gear (up to 40% off retail)
  • Free drinks from Field Trip
  • Free swag
  • Free ride credits from Fetii
  • Free entry with RSVP
• VetsinTech x Oracle NetSuite SXSW Kickoff Event – For Veterans.
  • VetsinTech is hosting an evening of appetizers, drinks, and networking during SXSW. (Oracle 2300 Oracle Way Austin, TX 78741)
• Ignite Your Startup at Equinix’s SXSW Happy Hour (The 13th floor 711 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701)
• GCI Health x Subvrsive Digital Innovation Mixer – For leaders in health and technology to network, discuss web 3. (Subvrsive 440 East Saint Elmo Road #Building C-2 Austin, TX 78745)
• SMOKE N’ SMASH – Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch Tournament 420 Prizes (2009 E Cesar Chavez St 2009 East Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX 78702)
• Equitech Texas Welcome Breakfast
• Shabbat at SXSW – #openShabbat, SXSW’s ultimate Shabbat experience – Everyone is welcome (Hilton Downtown Austin)

Related:

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March 11, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• Careers for the Future 2023 (The Lab, DMC 4.338, Moody College of Communication @ University of Texas at Austin 300 West Dean Keeton Street Austin, TX 78712)
• The Non-Obvious 7 Minute Meetup | The SHORTEST SXSW 2023 EVENT! (Austin, Texas (Secret Location near the ACC) 500 E 4th St Austin, TX 78701)
• Turnkey Labs Pickleball Social – (Bouldin Acres2027 S. Lamar BlvdAustin, TX)
• GrasshoppHer Presents: International Women’s Day at SXSW (Cork & Screw 2907 East 12th Street Austin, TX 78702)
• Chief Marketing People Party (Wax Myrtle’s 506 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701)
• Unleash Your Inner Trailblazer with Unstoppable WoW3 @ SXSW (Capital Factory 701 Brazos St Austin, TX 78701)
• CTC Startup Showcase + Happy Hour @SXSW23 (Yotta Energy, 2101 E ST Elmo Rd, 78744)
• Checkout The Channel Factory House @ SXSW (Channel Factory House at Lucille Patio Lounge)
• Minnesota Nice Meetup @ SXSW (Midwest House @ Half Step 75 1/2 Rainey Street Austin, TX 78701)
• Kick-off Evening Event: German Start-up Night (German Haus, Parkside 301 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701)
• The Non-Obvious 7 Minute Meetup | The SHORTEST SXSW AUSTIN MEETUP 2023! Secret Location near the ACC, 500 E 4th St Austin, TX 78701)
• KMFA Unofficial SXSW Contemporary Classical Day Party (Draylen Mason Music Studio – 41 Navasota Street, Austin, TX 78702)
  • Artists: Peter Stopschinski, Panoramic Voices, Catherine Davis, Inversion Ensemble, Thomas Echols, Lucianna Astorga, Mauricio Callejas, etc
  • Sponsors: Still Bourbon, Tito’s Vodka, (beer co. TBA)
• #GALSNGEAR at The VORTEX – Panel and Happy Hour (Sold Out)

March 12, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• All Things Food at SXSW 2023 (Official Event). Hosted by HT and Food Tank. (Huston-Tillotson University 900 Chicon Street Austin, TX 78702)
• A Brunch of Aussies (The Tipsy Alchemist 70 Rainey St Suite 200, Austin, TX 78701)
• Beers & Sliders with BEYOND Conference (Immersive Futures Lab 5th Floor, Fairmont Hotel Austin TX)
• PROOF Day Lounge (114 Linden St, Austin, TX)
• Brunch Faire Market – The HUE Marketplace (Cherrywood Coffeehouse 1400 East 38th 1/2 Street Austin, TX 78722)
• Sunday SVS At SXSW
• Vancouver Day at Canada House in Austin TX (Swan Dive 615 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701)
• All Things Food at SXSW 2023 (Official Event). Hosted by HT and Food Tank. (Huston-Tillotson University 900 Chicon Street Austin, TX 78702)

March 13, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• Creative Catalyst, Networking and Pop-Up Showcase (Immersive Futures Lab 5th Floor, Fairmont Hotel Austin TX)
• The Consumer VC Live (Brown Advisory 200 W 6th St, Suite 1700, Austin TX, 78701)
• THE LIGHT HOUSE presented by The Tech We Want (The Belmont 305 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78701)
• RECHARGE with RE/MAX (eleMINT Skin Health & Wellness Studio 1105 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78702)
  • Complimentary mini facials, chair massages, cocktails, and conversations with various experts in Austin Real Estate.
• A Ridiculous Boat Party (Lone Star Riverboat 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704)
• Momentum Lunch (621 Congress Ave. Suite 201, Austin, TX 78701)

March 14, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• UK Immersive Takeover Party At SXSW (Cedar Street Courtyard 208 West 4th Street #suite c Austin, TX 78701)
• Firehouse SXSW VC & PE Meetup
• SXSW Marketing Disrupters Talk (75 1/2 Rainey St 75 1/2 Rainey Street Austin, TX 78701)
• TinySeed Happy Hour @ SXSW (WP Engine HQ504 Lavaca Street #1000Austin, TX, 78701)
• FOCUS ON Wales – Creative Industries Meet Up (Sold Out)
• SkyFi’s Space Happy Hour (Inn Cahoots 1221 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78702)
• BIMA Breakfast at SXSW The Future of Digital: Unpicking the uncertainty (Austin The Courtyard, 208 W 4TH St Suite C, Austin Austin, TX 78701)
• SoundSurf Activate! (Dub Academy 906 East 5th Street #Ste 109 Austin, TX 78702)
• KOOP & Jungle Records Unofficial SXSW Day Party (Where: 903 E. 14th)
  • Acts: The Whale, Dead Leaf Echo, Nathan Felix, LCLS, Xavier Gilmore, Justin Boyd, P.T. Banks, Calico Sky and more!!!
  • Sponsors: Liquid Death, Treaty Oak Distilling, Genuine Joe’s, Twisted X Brewery, M.E. Gene Johnson and Pastiche

March 15, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• A Day in the Future of Fashion (Vuka – Bouldin Creek 411 West Monroe Street Austin, TX 78704)
• Afternoon Backyard Beer and Crypto Hangout

March 16, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• Unleash your Composable Powers at SXSW with Aprimo, EPAM and Contentstack (401 W 2nd St, Austin)

March 17, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• Scumbag Season Concert Series – ATX 2023 (Peckerheads 402 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701)
• Collision Course Concert Series – ATX 2023 (Peckerheads 402 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701)

March 18, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• Crawfish Boil & Austin Indie Label Mixer (Sold Out)
• SATSx Hackathon Weekend (601 Congress Ave. Suite 250 · Austin, TX)

March 19, 2023 SXSW Free Events

• Scumbag Season Concert Series – ATX 2023

What to bring to SXSW

Here are some recommended items if you want a happy South by Southwest experience.

For all of your swag, get a lightweight packable backpack such as one of these.

When visiting Austin, you’ll want to bring along a rain jacket. You never know how Texas weather is going to be.

For networking, don’t forget to bring your business cards.

During the festival, you’ll be using your phone a lot for maps, verifying RSVPs, communicating, and more. In order to not run out of battery juice, make sure you have a backup battery option.

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