SPEAK AT SXSW AUSTIN 2026: Submit Your Proposal
The SXSW Austin PanelPicker is now open for submissions, offering an unparalleled opportunity to share your ideas and insights at one of the world’s most influential events in technology, music, film, and culture.
‘From The Ground Up: How the UK is Supporting the XR and Immersive Sector' Future Art and Culture panel at UK House, SXSW Austin 2025
Apply HERE for PanelPicker
PanelPicker opens Tuesday 24 June 2025
Entry deadline Sunday 27 July 2025
Success Stories
Past SXSW events have highlighted outstanding contributions from UK artists and creatives, demonstrating the impact of thoughtful programming:
The From The Ground Up: How the UK is Supporting the XR and Immersive Sector Future Art and Culture panel took place live at UK House, SXSW Austin 2025, sharing insights into the UK’s growing immersive ecosystem and opportunities for global collaboration. Since being programmed at SXSW Austin, a second version of the panel was hosted live at SXSW London.
Disabled Not Welcome - Fighting Ableism 1 Click At A Time explored access into arts and culture as a fundamental human right, not a privilege. This panel asked how we can collectively democratise more equitable access to arts and culture for disabled audiences harnessing the power of technology to improve access, remove barriers to engagement and welcome more disabled visitors to our theatres, concert halls, festivals, museums, galleries and arts centres globally.
Can machines experience emotions without a physical body? The Emotional Machines: AI, Feeling & The Human Body panel discussed artificial emotional intelligence and its evolving role in human experience. Some of the questions asked where: Can AI’s purely computational intelligence exist without emotion when neuroscience shows we cannot make decisions without it? How can technology move beyond simulation to induce presence and relationality? Can it help us tap into the subtleties of perception? Bringing together neuroscience, art, and tech, this panel explored AI as a material to either dull or expand human experience, which we know is rooted in sensation and deep knowing.
Application tips
Successful proposals need to spark a conversation, introduce new innovations, discuss big ideas or analyse latest trends and research. Here are British Underground's top PanelPicker application tips:
Make a strong, succinct case, always referring back to the prompts
Make sure your panel idea is future-proof
You need a bold and eye-catching title
Passion is contagious. Put across your enthusiasm for the topic
Make sure you fill out ALL relevant sections
Connect the dots and make sure your panel is relevant to the event
The content and panelists need to highlight your unique take on the topic
Update your channels. Update your social media, website and portfolio.
Useful resources
PanelPicker FAQ
British Underground will be running our Future Art and Culture programme at SXSW 2026, supported by Arts Council England and the British Council, so please get in touch with us to discuss how we can support your ideas, particularly around topics exploring the intersection of art and technology. We are also keen to hear about projects that could be showcased in SXSW's XR Experience Exhibition.
For PanelPicker or any music-related SXSW questions, get in touch at info@britishunderground.net
