Usually it’s Texas that gets all the SXSW (South By Southwest) fun. The sprawling set of music and film festivals, accompanied by a jam-packed conference, has been happening in Austin since the Eighties. But this summer it’s coming to London for a six-day culture extravaganza.
Londoner Idris Elba has been announced as one of the headline conference speakers for London SXSW, which will run from June 2 to 7 in venues around Shoreditch. Elba, who has recently launched a high-profile campaign around knife crime in the UK, will be performing across the festival. With his various music, documentary and philanthropic projects, he could realistically appear on all parts of the festival’s programme.
Nigerian-born London singer Tems is set to headline Billboard The Stage at London SXSW. The Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and self-taught producer collaborated with Beyoncé for her 2022 Renaissance album, and is currently touring her debut album Born in the Wild.
Health guru Deepak Chopra, who recently sat down for an interview with Standard, has been announced as one of the headline speakers for the London SXSW conference.
The SXSW London Screen Festival will be presented by Jenn Nkiru, the Nigerian-British director behind music videos for Beyoncé and Neneh Cherry. The film festival programme will include short films, music videos, and immersive experiences.
Other figures from British entertainment confirmed for the event are comedian Katherine Ryan and health influencer Joe Wicks.
BBC Introducing, the Brit School, and Abbey Road Studios will be co-curating musical showcases throughout the week.
“The names we’re announcing today embody the groundbreaking ideas, creative energy, and collaborative ethos that SXSW London will bring to Europe for the first time,” said SXSW London CEO Max Alexander. “From redefining industries to spotlighting cutting-edge music scenes, this is just the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of global creativity.”
SXSW began in Austin in 1987 and has a reputation for showcase innovative thinking, especially around arts and technology, and has previously included Barack Obama and .
The 2024 edition sparked controversy when 80 acts pulled out after it was highlighted at the event took sponsorship from the US military and defence contractors. The organisation promised to review its sponsorship model, saying “The US army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”
