South by SouthWest 2025 will be held in London. The festival, which celebrates the convergence of “creativity, culture, and innovation,” is scheduled to take place from June 2-7 in Shoreditch. This is the festival’s first European edition and the second international destination after last year’s success in Sydney, Australia.
SXSW London is expected to attract more than 20,000 guests. In addition to inspiring keynotes, music showcases, tech, gaming, and film, the event will introduce boundary-pushing visual arts, design, and fashion programming in the east London neighborhood.
“As a life-long fan of SXSW, I truly believe that it’s more than an event—it’s a movement, a platform where the world’s greatest minds, musicians, and motivators come to share their passion and their vision of the future,” said Randel Bryan, Managing Director of SXSW London.
UK recording artists like Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran have performed at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin early in their careers, which helped them gain recognition across creative industries. However, this news follows a controversial Austin edition this year. Organizers faced scrutiny when over 100 artists, groups, and musical acts withdrew from SXSW over its sponsorship from the US Army and several weapons manufacturers linked to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF).
Applications are now open for performances in Austin next March. Musicians interested in performing in London should watch for upcoming announcements about opportunities. At that time, attendees can see which artists will choose to align themselves with the festival.
