BBC partners with South by Southwest (SXSW) London for the 2026 festival

The BBC is joining the SXSW London 2026 festival programme as a media and content partner.

The partnership will see the BBC contribute across the festival, spanning Conference, Music and Screen programming, with activity that reflects its role at the intersection of culture, journalism and innovation. This includes showcases curated by BBC Asian Network and BBC Introducing, alongside participation from BBC News in conversations addressing key issues such as misinformation.

BBC Studios will also bring a curated brand presence to the SXSW London Expo, including a TARDIS activation that celebrates the global reach of its world-renowned brands and storytelling, including Doctor Who and Bluey.

The collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship between the BBC and SXSW. It reflects a shared commitment to creativity and innovation, and a focus on championing emerging British talent and creating platforms for new creative voices to reach global audiences.

BBC Introducing, BBC Radio’s initiative which supports unsigned, undiscovered, and under-the-radar UK music talent, will host a special showcase event at Rich Mix on Thursday, June 4, 7pm to 11pm, hosted by Jess Iszatt from Introducing in London and BBC Introducing on Radio 1.

BBC Asian Network will curate a showcase of British Asian artists on Wednesday, June 3, 7pm to 11pm at Rich Mix, hosted by Asian Network’s Kizzi and featuring Maharani, Sonna Rele, Taal Haus and Abdullah Maharvi.

Elsewhere, Fiona Crack, Interim Global Director, BBC News, will take part in a fireside conversation to discuss how the BBC World Service is needed more than ever. She will speak with Rodrigo Carvalho, London correspondent for the Brazilian broadcaster Globo, about the importance of journalism and its verification tools worldwide.

In addition, BBC Studios Digital Brands will host a curated set of roundtable discussions exploring the evolving media landscape, with a focus on the creator economy, platform partnerships, and brand storytelling. SVP Jasmine Dawson will also appear on the panel Nostalgia Reloaded: How Iconic Brands Are Reborn Through Fans and Creators with Keisha Buchanan (Sugababes), exploring how fans, creators and digital culture are reimagining iconic brands for new audiences.

As a public service broadcaster, the BBC has a unique role in connecting audiences to global perspectives while showcasing British culture and creativity on an international stage. This aligns closely with SXSW London’s position as a platform where global ideas meet local influence, built around the convergence of media, technology, business and culture.

Katy Arnander, Chief Programming Officer at SXSW London, said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the BBC once again this year for the 2026 festival. The UK’s strength lies in its creative and technological industries, and London is one of the few places where both operate on a global scale.

The BBC has consistently been at the forefront of that intersection, from early digital innovation through to its role in supporting and exporting British storytelling and creative talent globally. Their role in bringing the world to the UK, and the UK to the world, aligns closely with how we see SXSW London – as a platform that connects global perspectives with real-world influence.”

Tove Okunniwa, Group Partnerships Director at the BBC, added, “The BBC has had a long-standing relationship with SXSW, and I’m delighted that we are partnering with the festival in London again this year. We have a shared commitment to creativity and innovation, and I look forward to working together on a number of exciting events.”

SXSW London returns to Shoreditch from June 1 until June 6 2026, bringing together leaders, creators and innovators across a city-wide programme spanning Conference, Music, Screen and Visual Arts. Built around London’s position as a global centre for culture, business and innovation, the festival creates space for ideas to be shared, challenged and developed across industries.

SXSW London runs from June 1 to 6 across Shoreditch. Secure your pass or book tickets now.