---
title: "SXSW Commits to Austin for 2027 and Beyond: We Are Not Leaving"
date: 2026-03-17
source: CBS Austin
source_url: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/sxsw-commits-to-being-back-in-austin-for-sxsw-2027
tags: [sxsw-2027, austin, festival, innovation, announcement]
summary: "SXSW SVP of Programming Greg Rosenbaum confirms the festival's commitment to Austin through 2027, dismissing relocation rumors and highlighting the new decentralized clubhouse format."
---

# SXSW Commits to Austin for 2027 and Beyond: We Are Not Leaving

SXSW organizers are putting relocation rumors to rest. In an interview with CBS Austin, SVP of Programming Greg Rosenbaum confirmed the festival's long-term commitment to Austin, Texas.

"We're very committed to being in Austin, Texas. We are excited that in March 2027, we will be back in Austin for another iteration of SXSW," Rosenbaum said.

The statement comes amid speculation that the festival might relocate following the demolition of the Austin Convention Center, which forced significant operational changes for SXSW 2026. Rather than packing up, organizers reimagined the festival footprint as a decentralized experience spread across downtown Austin.

## A New Distributed Format

Three SXSW clubhouses now serve as hubs for Innovation, Music, and Film & TV, replacing the single convention center anchor. Panels, sessions, and workshops are no longer centralized—attendees navigate between venues across the city.

"This is a completely different experience," said Walter Silva, a third-year SXSW attendee who initially struggled with the new format but came to appreciate it. "At most conferences you get stuck in a convention center. You do not get the opportunity to walk around the city."

SXSW also launched its first-ever takeover of three blocks of Congress Avenue, with Rivian's Electric Joyride experience in front of the State Capitol giving festival-goers a new way to engage with the city's expanded footprint.

## Looking Ahead: 2027 and Beyond

The convention center rebuild will take several more years, with the new facility expected to open for SXSW 2029. But Rosenbaum signaled that the distributed model may persist even after the convention center reopens.

"South by Southwest has been in Austin for 40 years. We are so proud of 40 years of SXSW in Austin, Texas, and we see many, many, many more years ahead of us," he said. "Our future is here."

Badge holders appear to agree—many expressed hope that the clubhouse concept would remain permanent.

"I prefer the decentralized way," Silva said. "I prefer this format."