South by Southwest clarified that its music-festival component will continue in 2026, despite SXSW's traditional music-only second weekend being nixed.

With dwindling band numbers and a surge in Film interest, the event will present a trimmed-down schedule that eliminates a dedicated music weekend in 2026. SXSW is also offering a lifeline to cash-strapped,

Organizers say they’re programming one complete week of film, TV, and music in March 2026, as opposed to the separate segments of years past: “SXSW music is not scaling back; we are leveling up”