March 13–16, 2027 | Austin, TX

Buy Now — Badge prices increase in 1 Days 21 Hours 11 Mins 7 Secs

March 13–16, 2027 | Austin, TX

Buy Now — Badge prices increase in 1 Days 21 Hours 11 Mins 7 Secs
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March 13–16, 2027 | Austin, TX

  • We’re Back in Session: Announcing First Keynote and Featured Sessions for SXSW EDU 2027

    We’re Back in Session: Announcing First Keynote and Featured Sessions for SXSW EDU 2027

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    SXSW Staff

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    School is back in session, and so are we. As educators head back to school, we’re looking to them, and the ideas emerging from the classroom, for what’s needed and next in education. We are thrilled to announce our first Keynote and three Featured Sessions for SXSW EDU 2027! 

    In a rapidly changing world, our speakers are diving headfirst into how education meets the moment. As conversations around tech and AI are increasingly defined by urgency, anxiety, and uncertainty, New York Times-bestselling author Mac Barnett champions the power of picture books and the brilliance of the children who read them. In this Keynote, he challenges adults to stop underestimating children’s literature, showing why young readers deserve ambitious art and how imagination lays the groundwork for how we learn.

    Education institutions are microcosms of our society, where today’s biggest changes are first manifested, tested, and solved. These Featured Sessions harness humor to turn classroom realities, youth culture, and civic values into smart, engaging solutions for the future.

    Badges are on sale for SXSW EDU 2027. Start the school year with SXSW EDU on your calendar and register by Thursday, September 17 to secure the lowest rate of the season.

    Keynote

    A Conversation with Mac Barnett

    As educators navigate rapid changes in technology, literacy, and how young people learn and engage with the world, Mac Barnett, New York Times-bestselling author and U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, will share why children deserve respect and art just for them.

    Mac Barnett, Author, U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

    Lore Drop: The Museum Rizzler & Friends Live

    Chat, the mother of all museum tours, is coming to SXSW EDU. After racking up 30+ million views dropping art history lore in delightfully unhinged internet slang, a 78-year-old National Gallery of Art curator is bringing the Museum Rizzler IRL. Think art history isn’t your thing? Perfect. Experience her live, then go behind the scenes with the National Gallery’s social media team to discover how they blended scholarship with comedy to build brand affinity, reach new audiences, and turn a legacy institution into cultural conversation.

    Alison Luchs, Curator of Early European Sculpture & Deputy Head of Sculpture, National Gallery of Art

    Mary King, Social Media Producer & Copywriter, National Gallery of Art

    Sydni Myers, Head of Social Media, National Gallery of Art

    The Classroom Is Telling Us Something

    What if the classroom is one of the best places to understand what’s really happening across the nation? Teachers see it first: how technology is changing learning, how economic pressure shapes students’ lives, and how communities and the workforce are evolving. Increasingly, schools are also becoming third spaces — places where students find food, connection, trusted adults, technology, and safety. In this candid conversation, Emmy Award-winning producer and comedian W. Kamau Bell brings teachers to the stage to share what they’re seeing on the frontlines — and what it means for all of us.

    W. Kamau Bell, Comedian, Who’s with Me & DonorsChoose

    What Kindergarten Can Teach Us About Democracy

    What if the skills that help kindergarten students participate in a classroom are also the skills adults need to participate in civic life? Blending classroom expertise with years of communicating complex issues to millions online, this session will translate what early childhood educators know about fairness, disagreement, and belonging into practical strategies for making civic life more accessible: explaining complex issues clearly, lowering the temperature without avoiding hard conversations, and helping people understand what fairness actually requires.

    Arielle Fodor, Content Creator & Advocate, Mrs. Frazzled

    SXSW Staff

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  • SXSW EDU 2027 Has Exciting New Updates

    SXSW EDU 2027 Has Exciting New Updates

    It’s a big month in the world of education– classrooms are beginning to fill up, campuses are welcoming back a flurry of activity, and beginning today, you can start making your plans to join us at SXSW EDU 2027!

    Here in Austin, we’ve spent the summer reflecting, brainstorming, and dreaming up new ideas to bring to life next March. SXSW EDU is the only conference and festival where the full education ecosystem meets the cultural and creative programming of SXSW — and we’re excited to share the first round of updates that drive the unexpected discoveries that move learning forward.

    New Dates to Kick Off the Learning

    SXSW EDU 2027 will take place March 13-16, opening across the weekend for the first time ever. Look forward to more flexibility for your schedule and experience — and take advantage of even more opportunities to experience the energy of SXSW. Speaking of which…

    Double the Crossover energy with SXSW

    Building on the dynamic diversity of bringing communities together this year, the Crossover experience is back and bigger than ever for 2027. Get ready for two full days of SXSW Conference content and activations to connect with peers, meet new collaborators, and discover fresh perspectives on education and beyond. 

    A Refreshed Experience in Downtown Austin

    After immersing ourselves in central Austin, we’re fine-tuning the map with a slightly new footprint. Explore programming, networking, and more at the Hilton Austin, Austin Marriott Downtown, and–new for next March–the JW Marriott. Your time with us wouldn’t be complete without at least one visit to the EDU Clubhouse, which will be back at the historic Antone’s Nightclub, for performances, gatherings, and more. 

    Locals Get Perks! Introducing the 512 Club

    We’re nothing if not proud Austinites to our roots, and this year when you buy a badge using your Austin-area zip code for billing, you’ll get access to a locals-only discount, insider perks, and more surprises in the lead-up to March — all to say thanks to our local community and partners who are core to SXSW’s DNA. The first perk you can look forward to is a downtown lounge — a home away from home for your time downtown. 

    Reservations Revamped

    Want to make sure you can grab a seat in your must-see sessions? Reservations are back for a second year, allowing you to secure a seat for Keynotes, Featured Sessions, Workshops, and Mentors. Stay tuned for more information and be ready when the booking window opens on March 9, 2pm CT.

    And that’s just a taste of the updates to look forward to as we embark on the road to the 17th annual SXSW EDU. In the meantime, be sure to check out PanelPicker Community Voting until August 23 to have your say in programming. If you want to get involved, don’t skip applying for additional opportunities. 

    We can’t wait to see you in March, so lock in the lowest rate of the season when you buy your badge today!

    SXSW Staff

  • PanelPicker Community Voting Is Now Open: Vote on Your Favorite Sessions

    PanelPicker Community Voting Is Now Open: Vote on Your Favorite Sessions

    Help select SXSW EDU 2027 programming! PanelPicker® community voting is open August 5-23, 2026. Cast your vote for your favorite session ideas you want to see in March.

    Participating in PanelPicker community voting gives you a unique opportunity to shape the 2027 program. Don’t miss this chance to have your say in this year’s event. Your vote can influence which innovative and insightful proposals make it to the stage in March.

    Did you submit a proposal for consideration? A diverse range of perspectives helps curate a truly enriching experience for all attendees, so help spread the word and get your community involved with these graphics.

    Final sessions are decided by the public, the SXSW EDU Advisory Board, and SXSW EDU staff. Be sure to submit your votes before the deadline on Sunday, August 23 at 11:59pm PT.

    How to Vote

    To participate in the voting process, sign in or create an account for free at panelpicker.sxsw.com.

    • Select SXSW EDU 2027 on the landing page to vote for SXSW EDU proposals
    • You can filter proposals by using the session track, format, focus area, tags, and level check boxes
    • Use the search field to find specific proposals using the title, description keywords, and speakers
    • Cast your vote cast your vote by selecting the heart icon next to the title of the session
    • Vote once per proposal

    Tips for Voting

    • Pay attention to diversity – Sessions with many different perspectives can be the most interesting. When reviewing the sessions, consider varying genders, ethnicities, locations, employments, and opinions.
    • Watch the accompanying video – The videos submitted with sessions often provide valuable insights and a better understanding of the session’s content and presentation style.

    SXSW Staff

  • Listen to SXSW EDU 2026 Podcast Recordings

    Listen to SXSW EDU 2026 Podcast Recordings

    The SXSW EDU Podcast Stage is where some of the most candid conversations of the entire event happen. Educators, researchers, and innovators sit down together and talk through the ideas shaping the future of learning, unscripted and in real time. And now, those conversations are yours to revisit!

    Since the event in March, 12 episodes recorded live from the 2026 Podcast Stage have been released, including episodes from The Learning Geeks, Voices For Justice, and Plot Twist, among others.

    Whether you were in the room for these conversations or missed them entirely, now’s your chance to press play.

    Listen Now:
    Record Your Podcast at SXSW EDU 2027

    Have a podcast perfect for SXSW EDU? Interested hosts and media can submit their podcast ideas for the 2027 Podcast Stage through PanelPicker®, open June 23 through July 26, 2026.

    SXSW Staff

  • Welcome (back) to the SXSW EDU Community!

    Welcome (back) to the SXSW EDU Community!

    It’s not an exaggeration to say that, outside of March, the end of June is probably the most highly anticipated time of year for the SXSW EDU team. And it’s not because summer is in full swing here in Texas, with days spent at the beloved Barton Springs Pool, or evenings with a cool drink or sweet scoop of ice cream. For us, this time of year is always a cause for celebration as we kick off the launch of the new season and begin the road to March. 

    A few months ago, we completely reimagined what SXSW EDU and SXSW could look like, and opened up the event into the streets of Austin. We experimented, we found successes as well as improvements, and most importantly, we were able to see the experience through the eyes of our attendees. We came, we saw, we learned – and now we’re so excited to begin planning for SXSW EDU 2027, bolder and better than ever!

    We begin as ever by focusing on the heart of our community – the expertise, innovation, insight, and creativity that you bring to the table. Starting today, PanelPicker is open for session ideas through July 26, and the Launch Startup Competition is accepting applications for cutting-edge products and services from early-stage education startups through November 1. Take the leap and showcase your work and vision for the future of learning – you’ll never know who you’ll meet and collaborate with. 

    We’ve been busy refining and building ways to amplify the incredible energy of the education community we have the privilege of convening each March. A few new things you’ll notice include the new International Exchange track, which builds upon the work of our Global Initiatives programming to hone in on the collaboration that is endemic to projects and initiatives that cross borders and cultural contexts. And for the eagle-eyed fans of our Conversation format, have no fear, Fireside Chats will grace the stage at SXSW EDU to continue to bring in-depth and hard-hitting discourse. 

    We look forward to sharing even more developments with you soon, but know that our commitment to continuing to intentionally build out student-focused programming, connecting students to industries and beyond, and providing professional development opportunities has not changed. Adobe all, we’re making sure that SXSW EDU attendees are finding one another and connecting in new, impactful, and exciting ways. 

    We can’t wait to see what’s in store!

    SXSW Staff