SXSW 2026 Review: The Activations That Worked
SXSW 2026 had no convention center. See how brands and the organizer used the city. Get the 53-page deck.
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What we saw at SXSW 2026
- SXSW had no convention center, and it will not have one for four years. The team spread the event across the city.
- Three clubhouses gave each audience a home: Innovation, Music and Film and TV. Each had a bar, merchandise, content and sponsor areas.
- Rivian took over the Block Party on Congress Avenue. Visitors could drive the new model and hear live music.
- Netflix opened a Peaky Blinders bar called The Garrison. It gave a digital photo in exchange for a phone number.
- Paramount+ used the same venue and format as last year with new content. It was again the most popular activation.
- Small activations worked for short attention spans. The São Paulo house mixed small booths, a podcast station and live music.
What is in the deck
53 pages: before the event, the clubhouses, small activations, media houses and large activations.
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