Did you know you can do SXSW free? Yes, you do not need one of those pricey badges in order to get wined and dined and a load of free swag. Every year there are tons of free SXSW events and parties, you just have to know how to find them and how to get on the list. Since most of these events require an RSVP, be sure to sign up early. Unfortunately, the popular events and parties can be sold out before South by Southwest even starts! There are still a lot of events that have open RSVP spots and somewhere you can just show up. In addition, there are various ways to get to free SXSW passes and free SXSW badges.
Get access to the Google Calendar with all of these events here. Then, you won’t have to add them one-by-one to your calendar! Next, grab some suggested festival gear to make the week even more fun.
How to go to 2020 Free SXSW Events and Parties
Each year I provide a SXSW guide. Here is the 2020 SXSW Guide. Last year, I provided lots of tips and tricks for attending SXSW free events. It is now that time of year again to put together my list of SXSW 2019 free stuff.
How to get SXSW Free Badges
Another way to do SXSW for free is to volunteer. Find out How to Volunteer at SXSW in Exchange for a Free SXSW Badge.
How to get Free Passes
Below, I will keep an updated list of the free SXSW parties and events. If you know of any to add to the list, leave a comment and then, I will add them. Usually, I only post the free events for SXSW interactive. These are your best bet for free food, swag, booze, and more. In order to not miss out, be sure to RSVP right away since many of the spots fill up.
The Guest Pass is your free credential to many SXSWeek® events including Flatstock 65, SXSW Job Market, SXSW Wellness Expo, SXSW Marketplace, an Outdoor Film Screening at the Long Center, and more! Get your SXSW free guest pass.
SXSW Free 2020 Events and RSVP Lists
In order to keep up-to-date, especially during SXSW, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, you can subscribe to my Twitter list, SXSW Free here.
Bookmark this page as it will be updated frequently.
2020 Free Events Coming Soon!
I am keeping the list of the 2019 events posted as some of those links might still be working for 2020.
RSVP to 2019 SXSW Free Events That Span Multiple Days
March 8 – 11 Fast Company Grill is a must-see. In fact, over the last few years, we’ve gone pretty much every day, maybe multiple times a day. Throughout the day there are speakers, free meals, a special SXSW open bar, and places to just kick back and hang out. Free RSVP here.
March 7 -13 – The Capital Factory VIP Lounge has free daily catered meals, a workplace, conference rooms, and more. The last few years we have gotten some good food and good swag over there. In order to attend, apply for entrance to Capital Factory’s VIP Lounge.
The 7th – 10th – Berlin Saloon has a co-working cafe during the day, a press lounge, lots of meetups, talks, and more at Buffalo Billiards. RSVP here.
March 8 – 10 https://www.voxmedia.com/a/go-deeper/sxsw-2018 The Deep End | Three days of unfiltered storytelling, live podcasts, musical spotlights, and immersive experiences, all designed to ignite your curiosity. Last year, there were free drinks, food, podcasts, and music at The Belmont.
March 8 – 11 Energizing Health House @ SXSW 2019 at Cooper BBQ
The 8th – 11th Inc Founders House 11:30am -8pm La Volpe, 201 Brazos St. Bldg B Austin, TX
March 11 -13 Patreon House of Creativity at 86 Rainey Street
March 9-11 The Drum Arms in Austin at the Drinks Lounge
The 8th -17th 7am – 7pm Bumble Hive SXSW at Jo’s Coffee 242 W 2nd
March 9 -11 10am – 2am Amplify Philly House at Pour Choices
March 8 -11 Sprinklr JW Marriott
Thursday, March 7 SXSW Free Events
Friday, March 8, 2019
4-8pm – Startup Crawl 2019 pub crawl from Capital Factory.
8pm – 1am – Infopark Party with DJ, Live Act at Buffalo Billards
4pm -12am 5th Annual Open Door Showcase at the Dogwood
6pm -10pm TrendKite at Nite at Seven Grand
5pm – 10pm Golden Hour by Michelob at the Long Center
6pm -8pm Inc Founders Opening Party at La Volpe Questions? Email us at [email protected]
12pm -8pm Travel Launch at 91 Rainey
8:30am – 10:30am Free Health Community Kickoff Breakfast at SXSW 2019 at Coopers BBQ
5pm – 8pm Harvest HQ Opening Night Party
12pm – 2pm The Li.st Brunch
Saturday, March 9, 2019
5-7pm Bad Crypto Meetup During SXSW: | The Bad Crypto Podcast special guests for a fun happy hour of learning and sharing about blockchain and crypto. location TBD – sign up
12- 5:30 Healthtech Innovation Conference at Buffalo Billards
(2018 info) Spredfast Smart Social Suite : networking in comfort and style. I’m waiting to find out if there will be a Spredfast 2019 SXSW party.
2pm – 2:45 SXSW 2019: Science Fiction meets Health at Buffalo Billiards
2pm – 5pm VIP Brand Summit: Sports & Tech at We Work
8pm -11pm Sweet Innovation: Celebrating Technology & Entrepreneurship at Sunset Room
3pm – 5pm Backyard Session – Miracle Gro at 78 Rainey Street
9:30am – 6:30pm Accelerating our Energy Future with Shell in Austin at SXSW at 409 Colorado
12pm – 2pm The Puppy Pop-up
1pm – 6pm Tito’s Party for Austin Humane Society
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Create and Cultivate pop-up at SXSW opens at 10:30am but line up early. There will be food, drinks, speakers, and special guests.
8pm – 1am Official Berlin Interactive Night at Buffalo Billards
10am – 6pm – The Blockchain House at 606 E 3rd
11am – 8pm Chill and Chat at Key Bar
7pm -11pm Startup Night SXSW 2019 presented by Eventbrite at 323 e 6th street
4pm -6pm Expert Happy Hour at Upstairs at Caroline
4pm -5pm Vancouver the Center of E-sports at 92 Rainey Street
10am -12pm Small Biz Brunch & Bingo at Sunset Room
9am – 3pm KC Outpost at Maggie Maes
10:30am – 6pm THE RETREAT Austin at South Congress Hotel
11am – 2pm Apex-Brasil’s SXSW Press Brunch: Meet Brazil’s Most Innovative Startups at Fogo de Chao
12pm -5pm Ogury Austin at Handlebar
10am – 10pm Culture Trip: Soho in SoCo – Hong Kong Night Market at Austin Motel
11am – 6pm West Elm x Rent the Runway Celebration Event
Monday, March 11, 2019
3:30 – 6:30pm Food+City Startup Showcase on the South Congress drag will have food and drinks. “This is an Official SXSW event. While our event is free and open to the public, SXSW badge holders will have priority for entry. RSVP required for entry”. Register for your free RSVP here.
4:30pm – 7:30pm SXSW 2019 Women in Digital Rally at Google Fiber Space
9am – 7pm – CI&T Innovation Kitchen at Courtyard Marriott Downtown
4pm -8pm A Hitchhikers Guide to Alternative Data and AI presented by S&P Global Market Intelligence at the Vaughn
1pm – 4pm WeTalk 2019 Dell Technologies at Sunset Room
8am – 10pm The Future Of _______ Event at Galvanize
6pm – 9pm SciFi SXSW Wrap-Up Party Registration
6pm -10pm Pushnami SXSW Party with Pushnami
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
9am – 4:30 Innovation Policy Day 2019 at La Condesa
6pm -10pm GOOD Design, Tacos, and Music at Spreetail
12pm – SXSW 2019: Global Street Farm, Brought to you by PMA at 88 1/2 Rainey
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 Events and RSVPs
5:30pm – 9 Lafayette Live Crawfish Boil @ SXSW 2019: A True Cajun Experience at C- Boys Heart and Soul
For SXSW Freebies March 14 – 18, 2019 click next page.
where arew the rest of the sxsw dayS?
Usually, I only post the free events for SXSW interactive. These are your best bet for free food, swag, booze, and more.
Rachel, thanks for this post. I’d like to give you a shout out in my SXSW post if that’s okay. My blog femrefinery.com is in production. I’m in Austin too! And I’m a cancer survivor. Are you attending or have attended the Thrive conference?
Hi Monique, Yes, that’s great! Thanks. No, I’m not attending Thrive, though I am going to the AdThrive conference, Accelerate Summit in March. Hope you are doing well. Let me know when your site is up and running.
2018 Women in Digital at SXSW: 4:30pm – 8:30pm IS SOLD OUT. but there is a wait list.
Thanks for letting us know.