17 SXSW events that don’t require a badge in 2026

SXSW has fun in store for everyone, whether or not you have a badge this year. With SXSW 2026 just over a week away, we’re getting excited about one of the biggest festivals in the world returning to Austin for its 39th year. Even if you don’t have a badge, there are official and unofficial events galore that are completely free to attend. In fact, around 53% of our audience only attends the free events. We’ve rounded up 17 events to get on your radar — bookmark this page because we’ll continue to update with more free events.