South by Southwest festival preparations have been rocked by a mass shooting in Austin.
As the Texas capital prepares for its annual film, music, gaming and tech festival, the city was shaken early on Sunday morning by the shooting that killed three and injured 14 at an Austin bar.
A SXSW spokesperson told Deadline that festival officials remain in “close coordination” with law enforcement and safety agencies amid planning for the festival, which kicks off next week. More than 500,000 people are expected to attend.
The 2026 extravaganza runs from 12 to 18 March and this year features a diverse lineup headlined by Lola Young, Fuerza Regida, Bill Burr and BigXthaPlug.
“We are devastated by the tragedy that occurred in Austin last night. This is our home and we care about it deeply. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we’re grateful to first responders for their swift response,” the statement read.
“SXSW works closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies to plan for a safe SXSW,” they added.
“We will continue to stay in close coordination with our public safety and city partners and will provide additional updates as they become available.”
Three people died at Sunday’s shooting, including the shooter, according to CNN. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the gunman opened fire from inside a large SUV outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden just before 2am.
