SXSW 2019 Guest Pass, SXXpress Passes and Free Official Events Information

With just weeks away the city of Austin is getting ready for the much anticipated SXSW festival starting March 8th, 2019. If you can’t afford a badge for any of the SXSW official events you can still celebrate and for free! Three main sources for attending SXSW free events are SXSW Guest pass, SSXpress passes and Eventbrite events posted daily. Below are the descriptions for the three options for SXSW 2019 free events.

SXSW 2019 Guest Pass

The SXSW Guest Pass is your ticket to free events, shows, and giveaways including the SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake, SXSW Wellness Expo, SXSW Marketplace, Flatstock 69, and more! From now through the end of SXSWeek, all free events will be announced through the Guest Pass email list.

The developing list of free and open to the public events, including those which do not require a Guest Pass for admission, can be viewed here.

Getting your 2019 Guest Pass

  • Click the “Get Your Guest Pass Now” button
  • Create your account
  • Check your email for your 2019 SXSW Guest Pass
  • Save the email or download your Guest Pass to your mobile phone via Apple Wallet or Google Pay

The official SXSW Guest Pass schedule is already posted on the SXSW Guest Pass page. Below are the SXSW 2019 Guest Pass events already confirmed:

  • SXSW International Women’s Day Celebration In Partnership with the European Union and UN Women | March 8 from 2pm-10pm
  • Wellness Expo | March 9-10 from 11am-6pm
  • General Assembly + SXSW Workshops | March 9-10 from 11am-4:30pm
  • Flatstock 69 | March 14 from 12pm-6pm, March 15 & 16 from 11am-6pm
  • SXSW Marketplace | March 15-16 from 11am-6pm
  • SXSW Outdoor Stage | March 14-16 (Hours TBD)

View the complete list of official SXSW free and open to the public events, including those which do not require a Guest Pass for admission here: http://explore.sxsw.com/2019-sxsw-free-events-daily?_ga=2.29130556.129204459.1551129527-542251632.1544046838. To sign up or for more information on a guest pass please click here.

SXXpress (South by Express) Passes 

Free to all registrants, the SXXpress Passes allow attendees with Platinum, Interactive, Film, and Music Badges to request priority access to individual Conference sessions and parties, Music Festival Showcases, Film Festival Screenings, and Comedy Festival Showcases. SXXpress Pass signup opens at 9:00am on the day before an event. SXXpress Pass signup begins on Thursday, March 7 for events on Friday, March 8. SXXpress Pass signup ends on Saturday, March 16, 2019. SXXpress Passes are digital and can be requested through the online Schedule or in SXSW GO, the official mobile app. Passes will be distributed via email, Apple Wallet, and Android Pay.

How to Access Digital SXXpress Passes

Before you can sign up for SXXpress Passes you must:

  1. Log in and link your badge in SXSW GO or at SXSW Social using the SXSW Social Link Code found in your registration confirmation email.
  2. Pick up your badge from Registration. You must have your physical, printed SXSW Badge before requesting SXXpress Passes.

How Many SXXpress Passes Do I Get With My Badge Type?

You may only request a SXXpress Pass for events that you have primary access to — see the Badge Comparison Chart for more information on primary and secondary access. For example, registrants with Platinum Badges may request passes for any eligible event, whereas a Music Badge only provides passes to Music Showcases, Music Sessions, and Music Parties. All attendees can request passes to Comedy Festival Showcases.

  • Platinum registrants may request up to three passes per day. This can be any combination of Conference Sessions, Film Festival Screenings, Music Festival Showcases, and/or Parties (Interactive/Film/Music Opening Parties, Interactive Mix at 6, Interactive Bash, and Film Intermission Party).
  • Interactive registrants may request up to two passes per day. This can be a combination of Interactive and Convergence Sessions and/or Interactive Parties (Opening Party, Interactive Mix at 6, and Interactive Bash).
  • Film registrants may request for up to two passes per day. This can be a combination of Film Screenings, Film and Convergence Sessions, and/or Film Parties (Opening Party and Film Intermission Party).
  • Music registrants may request up to two passes per day. This can be a combination of Music Showcases, Music and Convergence Sessions, and/or the Music Opening Party.

SXXPress Pass Badge Comparison Chart

All SXSW Badges can request daily, digital SXXpress Passes to gain priority access to select events.

How to Request Your Individual SXXpress Passes:

Open SXSW GO or the online schedule, navigate to the event you want to attend, then click the “Request SXXpress Pass” button. You will be sent an email for each successful SXXpress Pass request, including instructions on using the digital pass and when to arrive at the event. Note: SXXpress Passes cannot be returned or exchanged. All requests are final.

What is the Request Period for a SXXpress Passes?

  • Conference Sessions and Parties (New for 2019): SXXpress Passes may be requested daily from 9:00am on the day before an event. The request period will end when the limited number of Passes allocated have been claimed or five hours before the session, whichever comes first
  • Eligible Conference events include: Keynotes, Featured Speakers, Solo/Dual/Panel, Focus15s, Meet Ups, Book Readings, Pitch Events, Podcasts, Partner Programming (select venues only), and the following parties: Interactive/Film/Music Opening Parties, Interactive Mix at 6, Interactive Bash, and Film Intermission Party.
  • Film Festival Screenings: SXXpress Passes may be requested daily from 9:00 am on the day before an event’s start time. The request period will end when the limited number of Passes have been claimed or five hours before the screening, whichever comes first.
  • Music Festival Showcases: SXXpress Passes may be requested daily from 9:00am on the day before an event’s start time. The request period will end when the limited number of Passes have been claimed or at 3:00pm the day of the showcase, whichever comes first.

What Line Do I Get In at an Event With My SXXpress Passes?

  • Conference Sessions/Parties – Registrants with a SXXpress Pass should proceed to the designated area at the front of the Primary Access badge line.
  • Film Screenings – Registrants with a SXXpress Pass must arrive no later than 30 minutes before the start of the film and proceed to the designated area at the front of the Primary Access badge line.
  • Music Showcases – Registrants with an SXXpress Pass should proceed to the designated area at the front of the Primary Access badge line.
  • Comedy Showcases – Registrants with an SXXpress Pass should proceed to the designated area at the front of the Primary Access badge line.

For more information on badge access, SXXpress Passes, and event navigation tools, please visit the Attendee Services Hub or at https://www.sxsw.com/attend/sxxpress/.

Eventbrite Free SXSW Events

Eventbrite has a ton of free events already posted on the Eventbrite site. Below are just a few posted and there will be more added as SXSW 2019 gets closer to day 1.

  • SXSW Startup Crawl 2019: Fri, Mar 8, 4:00pm | Downtown Austin, Austin, TX
  • Innovation Mansion at SXSW: Sat, Mar 9, 9:30am | SXSW, Austin, TX
  • SXSW Chill & Chat: Sun, Mar 10, 11:00am | Key Bar, Austin, TX
  • BerlinSaloon @ SXSW 2019: Thu, Mar 7, 9:00pm | Buffalo Billiards, Austin, TX
  • KC Outpost at SXSW 2019: Sun, Mar 10, 9:00am | Maggie Mae’s, Austin, Texas
  • SXSW Opening Reception @ The Carver: Fri, Mar 8, 6:00pm | George Washington Carver Museum, Austin, TX
  • BGV Pitch @ SXSW 2019: Mon, Mar 11, 6:00pm | Google Austin (SXSW Room), Austin, TX
  • Reeperbahn Hamburgers @ SXSW: Mon, Mar 11, 4:00pm | Downtown Burgers, Austin, TX
  • Make Innovation Happen @ SXSW: Sun, Mar 10, 11:00am | Capital Factory, Austin, TX
  • The Rendezvous SXSW Edition: Thu, Mar 14, 12:00pm | Flamingo Cantina, Austin, TX
  • SXSW Hardware Happy Hour: Fri, Mar 8, 4:00pm | Jester King Brewery, Austin, TX
  • Wunderbar BBQ at SXSW 2019: Wed, Mar 13, 1:00pm | Seven Grand | 405 E 7th Street, Austin, TX
  • German Pavillion SXSW 2019: Sun, Mar 10, 4:00pm | Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX
  • EU@SXSW Opening Reception: Sat, Mar 9, 4:00pm | Palm Door on Sixth, Austin, TX
  • German Haus at SXSW 2019: Sat, Mar 9, 9:00am | The Graeber House at 410, Austin, TX
  • SXSW International Welcome Breakfast: Fri, Mar 8, 8:30am | Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, Austin, TX
  • Media Startup Night @ SXSW: Mon, Mar 11, 6:00pm | GERMAN HAUS – THE GRAEBER HOUSE AT 410, Austin, Texas
  • SXSW Puppy Party 2019: Sun, Mar 17, 12:00pm | Lustre Pearl, Austin, Texas

There are several more events on Eventbrite for SXSW 2019 and as stated before more will continue to be added before SXSW’s day one. To RSVP via Eventbrite for SXSW 2019 free events or to view the complete list on the site please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/tx–austin/free–events/sxsw/?end_date=2019-03-17&page=1&start_date=2019-03-07.

For more information about SXSW 2019 please visit: www.sxsw.com. We will be covering SXSW 2019 and will continue to add more updates for the festival begins. See you all in Austin, Texas!

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Source: SXSW, Eventbrite