Crossed Wires Festival to Co-Curate SXSW London Podcast Track
SXSW London has announced a partnership with Crossed Wires — the UK's biggest podcast festival — to co-curate a dedicated podcasting track for its 2026 edition. The track will run on Wednesday, June 3, at Christ Church Spitalfields (The Nave).
The Panels
Two new panels have joined the conference schedule:
Beyond Podcasting: Building Show People Belong To — Featuring Miquita Oliver (BBC podcast Miss Me? co-host with Lily Allen), Jamie Laing (JamPot Productions founder and podcast/TV star), Craig Strachan (JamPot CEO), and Dino Sofos (Crossed Wires co-founder, CEO of Persephonica). This panel explores how podcasts evolve into broader communities and fandoms.
Crossed Wires: The Live Podcasting Boom — With Danny Robins (host of Uncanny), Alice Levine (My Dad Wrote a Porno co-host and Crossed Wires co-founder), Dino Sofos, and Jonny Kanagasooriam (Managing Editor, Podcast Strategy & Video at BBC Sounds). This panel examines the explosive growth of live podcast events.
Broader Podcast Lineup
These panels join an existing podcast track that includes Callum "Calfreezy" Airey, GK Barry, Elis James and John Robins, Joe Marler, Keisha Buchanon, and Fin Taylor.
Why It Matters
- Podcasting is being elevated to a first-class conference track at SXSW London, reflecting the medium's cultural dominance
- Crossed Wires brings serious industry credibility — its Sheffield festival has attracted 45,000+ attendees
- The partnership blurs the line between festival and fan convention, embracing podcast fandoms as passionate communities
Dino Sofos, Crossed Wires co-founder, said: "Podcast fandoms now feel every bit as passionate as music or sport — people want to see their favourite shows in the flesh and share that experience with other fans."
Katarina Sherling, Head of Conference at SXSW London, added: "Podcasts dominate our lives, and introducing a track dedicated to the business of podcasting and the people behind the microphone was a complete no brainer in our second year."
Key Takeaways
- Crossed Wires is co-curating the SXSW London podcast track on June 3, 2026
- Major UK podcast names confirmed: Miquita Oliver, Jamie Laing, Alice Levine, Danny Robins
- The track covers both the business of podcasting and the live event phenomenon
- Crossed Wires also announced Ian Bushell as new Managing Director to oversee strategic growth