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SXSW EDU Conference & Festival is an annual convening in Austin, Texas, that brings together educators, administrators, policymakers, students, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, researchers, funders, technology developers, and other stakeholders to explore developments affecting education and learning. Launched in 2011, SXSW EDU has grown from an educational conference into a multi-part conference and festival that combines keynote and featured speakers, panel discussions, workshops, mentoring, networking, exhibitions, competitions, films, performances, and other programming. Programming covers a range of themes and education levels. Areas include K–12 and higher education, continuing education, technology, policy, entrepreneurship and investment, teaching and learning, and workforce-related issues. The program also includes competitions intended to elevate emerging ideas and organizations, as well as opportunities for exhibitors, sponsors, partners, startups, students, and other participants to gain visibility.
SXSW EDU's relationship with the larger South by Southwest (SXSW) environment further distinguishes the convening. While SXSW EDU is focused on education and learning, its location within the broader SXSW ecosystem creates opportunities for crossover among education, technology, business, entrepreneurship, media, culture, and other fields.
The event's programming model also gives its community a role in determining which ideas reach the stage. PanelPicker is a crowdsourced process through which proposed sessions are made available for public review and voting. For the 2024 program, for example, final proposal scores were based on 40% Advisory Board evaluation, 30% public voting, and 30% staff review.
Over time, SXSW EDU also expanded beyond conventional conference sessions. It introduced an education Expo and startup competition in 2012, a film program in 2013, a student startup competition in 2015, and a performance program and Learn by Design competition in 2017. These additions broadened the event from a professional conference into what SXSW EDU now describes as a Conference & Festival.
A distinguishing feature of SXSW EDU is its inclusion of prominent speakers from outside traditional education circles. Its stages have featured political leaders, business leaders, actors and media figures, authors, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and other well-known public figures alongside educators and education policymakers. These high-profile participants attract wider audiences and extend the visibility of the event and the education issues being discussed there.
In 2010, SXSW announced the creation of SXSWedu and the inaugural conference was held in March 2011 in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency. The event was initially connected to Project Share, a statewide learning environment, and was modeled in part on the convening and cross-sector approach of its parent event, South by Southwest.
SXSW EDU grew rapidly during its early years. By 2012, its second year, attendance had surpassed 2,000, more than double the previous year. As the event expanded, so did its national and international reach. In 2023, SXSW EDU reported 8,004 registrants and total attendance of 12,131, including public attendance, with participants representing 45 countries. Because SXSW EDU has used different attendance measures over time, figures should not be viewed as a precise year-by-year but illustrate the event's evolution from a relatively small gathering into a major national and international education convening.
SXSW EDU is part of South by Southwest (SXSW) and is operated by SXSW, LLC. The event works with a changing group of corporate, philanthropic, nonprofit, education, media, association, and other partners and sponsors. Organizations may participate through sponsorships, exhibitions, programming, competitions, networking activities, and other forms of engagement. Because sponsors and partners change from year to year, current organizations are identified on the SXSW EDU website and event materials.
SXSW EDU. (n.d.). History. https://sxswedu.com/about/history/
SXSW EDU. (n.d.). Program. https://sxswedu.com/program/
SXSW EDU. (2021, February 9). Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce Perry keynote announced for SXSW EDU Online 2021. https://sxswedu.com/news/2021/oprah-winfrey-dr-bruce-perry-keynote-announced-for-sxsw-edu-online-2021/
SXSW EDU. (2023). SXSW EDU 2024 PanelPicker guide. https://explore.sxsw.com/hubfs/SXSW_EDU_2024_PanelPicker_Guide.pdf
SXSW EDU. (2025). Apply to speak at SXSW EDU: PanelPicker is open. https://sxswedu.com/news/2025/apply-to-speak-at-sxsw-edu-panelpicker-is-open/
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