Steven Spielberg Announced as SXSW 2026 Keynote

South by Southwest® (SXSW®) today announced that Steven Spielberg will appear as a Keynote speaker at the 2026 Conferences on Friday, March 13. In a live episode of The Big Picture, Spielberg will join host Sean Fennessey for a wide-ranging conversation about his extraordinary body of work, the future of movies and moviegoing, and his new original event thriller, Disclosure Day, arriving in theaters this June from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. SXSW 2026 runs March 12–18 in Austin and marks the festival’s 40th year.

Said Claudette Godfrey, VP Film & TV:

“Childhood dreams do come true! Steven Spielberg is a true pioneer and legend whose seminal work has inspired generations of filmmakers and audiences alike. He’s given us some of cinema’s most formative, unforgettable, and magical experiences, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on screen. He embodies the spirit of cinematic innovation and bold storytelling that defines SXSW, and bringing him to Austin for this special Keynote is going to be an extraordinary moment for our community. Making dreams come true is exactly why we do what we do. We’ll all be phoning home about this one!”

Few filmmakers have shaped and defined modern cinema as indelibly as Spielberg. From Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park to Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders of the Lost Ark and from Schindler’s List to Saving Private Ryan, his work has defined the blockbuster era while also setting the standard for emotional storytelling and technical innovation. A three-time Academy Award® winner and the founder of Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks, Spielberg remains one of the most influential creative forces in film history.

Spielberg joins an already dynamic Film & TV Conference lineup that includes featured conversations with Vince Gilligan and Rhea Seehorn on the legacy of Breaking Bad and the future of television storytelling; Larry David and Jeff Schaffer previewing their upcoming HBO historical comedy series; Bill Lawrence, Matt Tarses, Steve Carell, and Danielle Deadwyler discussing their new HBO Original ROOSTER; and Jamie Lee Curtis reflecting on reinvention, creativity, and career longevity. Together, these sessions underscore SXSW’s commitment to spotlighting the visionary creators shaping film and television today.