As the South by Southwest Conference and Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary in Austin, this year’s festival looks a little different. And while some local businesses say they’re enjoying a 2026 boom, others aren’t so happy.
“I’ve been trying to figure out where everybody is, it’s so different this year,” said Jackie Dunn, manager of Hideout Coffee House on North Congress Avenue. “We are not anywhere near our sales numbers from last year, not even close. And we’re in the thick of it, so I can’t imagine places outside of it.”
With the Austin Convention Center closed for redevelopment, SXSW is no longer tethered to the building that once served as the event’s central hub. Instead, programming is spread across hotels, venues and various event spaces throughout downtown…