SXSW London 2026 Day-by-Day Guide: AI, Film, and Music Highlights
SXSW London returns for its second year from June 1–6, 2026 in Shoreditch, with a staggering program of 800+ speakers, 200+ music artists, and 100+ films across six days. Here's what to catch.
Monday, June 1 — AI and Creative Industries
The festival opens with a timely roundtable: "How AI Is Presenting a Wave of Fresh Challenges to the Creative Industry." This comes as debates around AI-generated content, copyright, and the future of creative work intensify across film, music, and design.
Also on Monday: the screening of _Only Rebels Win_, a thought-provoking exploration of interfaith relationships in modern-day Lebanon, followed by a selection of horror shorts charting the most eclectic offerings of global cinema.
Tuesday, June 2 — NOTION Stage and Sofia Coppola
- NOTION's curated stage takes over Shoreditch Town Hall featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Dallas collective Cure for Paranoia, UK soul group GRAMN., and rapper Harry Edohoukwa
- Panels on the new frontiers of digital fashion
- Screening of Sofia Coppola's Marc Jacobs documentary _Marc by Sofia_
- Documentary exploring the hidden world of competitive whistling (Whistle)
Wednesday, June 3 — Music and Olivia Wilde
- Circa Waves (indie rock), Rachel Chinouriri (rising pop), and Infinity Song (soft-rock sibling quartet) take the stage
- Sneak preview of Olivia Wilde's filmmaking return _The Invite_
- Panels on the importance of live music and whether creativity can positively impact society
Thursday, June 4 — Nightlife and Afrobeats
- "Last Night a DJ Saved My Night" panel featuring DJ Jodie Harsh, Black Lives in Music CEO Charisse Beaumont, Metro Editor-in-Chief Deborah Arthurs, and Fabric Co-Founder Cameron Leslie — exploring the fight to save London nightlife
- Film shorts on acts of defiance against oppression
- South Korean cyber-thriller from director Han Chang-lok
- Performances from Finn Askew, Amaria BB, and Tiwa Savage
Friday, June 5 — UK Rap, Brazilian Identity, and House of the Dragon
- Panels on UK rap's trajectory and musical identity in Brazil
- Silent film re-scored by The Cure
- HBO's House of the Dragon Season 3 panel with showrunner Ryan Condal and cast
- Sets from R&B rising star NNAOMI, rapper V.I.C., and Welsh rocker Hana Lili
Saturday, June 6 — Closing Film Slate
The festival closes with cinema highlights: Paul Urkijo Alijo's Basque folk horror _The Night_ and _SICKO_, a Kazakh thriller about a young couple faking cancer for profit.
Key Takeaways
- AI's impact on creative industries kicks off the festival on Day 1 — an essential panel for anyone in film, music, or design
- Star-studded film slate: Sofia Coppola, Olivia Wilde, and more
- Music spans Afrobeats, indie rock, alt-pop, and UK rap across Shoreditch venues
- 800+ speakers and 100+ films make this a significantly expanded second edition