BY SIENNA WIGHT
2024 SXSW economic impact The economic impact report shows South by Southwest’s greater impact on Austin.
By the numbers
40 years of history
Roland Swenson, Louis Jay Meyers, Louis Black and Nick Barbaro started SXSW in 1987. Just four years before Austin was named the Live Music Capital of the World, 177 artists, and 700 attendees and organizers gathered to witness the first of many iterations. Since 1987, SXSW has highlighted local artists, including Austin-based singer, song- writer and rapper SaulPaul. He has played SXSW as a showcasing artist several times.
In 2024, the festival generated over $370 million toward the city’s economy. SXSW officials break this down into three components: atten- dance impact, operational impact and partner impact in an economic impact report. SXSW works with local hotels to offer lower rates to those who book their stay directly through their website. In 2024, these bookings resulted in $2.3 million in hotel occupancy tax revenue. HOT revenue helps to promote tourism and the hotel and convention industry in Austin, according to city documents. When comparing the period of March 6-15 of 2024 and 2025, visitor spending was up 1.3%, and restaurant spending was up 14%, according to Kerr. “It’s really encouraging,” she said. “It shows the steadiness of SXSW and makes me look forward to 2026.”
Attendance impact: represents the contributions that
Total impact: $377.3M
attendees, performers and business leaders make to local businesses during their time in Austin Operational impact: organizers spend money year-round on things such as equipment rental and employee salaries, making up the operational impact Partner impact: represents the events, marketing and brand presence of SXSW partners
$217.8M
“Being able to perform for a global audience right here in my hometown, that’s such a great opportunity,” SAULPAUL, LOCAL MUSICIAN
$98.5M
NOTE: SXSW HAS NOT RELEASED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT FOR 2025 AS OF PRESS TIME. SOURCE: SXSW/COMMUNITY IMPACT
$61M
11
SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook