SXSW has added new Keynotes and a third round of Featured Speakers for its 39th edition. Keynote speakers are Grammy winner John Fogerty and Bluesky CEO Jay Graber.
“Whether it be insights from the CEO of one of the fastest-growing social media platforms or tales from a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, the unique perspectives showcased each March is what makes SXSW such an exceptional event,” said Hugh Forrest, president and chief programming officer. “Jay Graber and John Fogerty are excellent additions to what is developing into a fascinating Keynote Speaker lineup.”
Fogerty and Graber join the previously announced IBM chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna as keynote speakers for the festival, which runs March 7-15.
The Featured Speakers announced today include President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated Cristiano Amon; co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment Alan Bergman; professor, podcast host, New York Times bestselling author, co-founder of HiddenLight Productions and Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation Chelsea Clinton; writer, director, singer-songwriter, New York Times bestselling author, and two-time Golden Globe-winning actor David Duchovny; Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro; entrepreneur, podcast host, New York Times bestselling author and Professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business Scott Galloway; author and founder of Backstage Capital Arlan Hamilton; stand-up comedian, writer, actor, musician, and host of the podcast WTF with Marc Maron Marc Maron; and writer, researcher, software engineer, and founder of the website Web3 is Going Just Great Molly White.
The SXSW Conference is organized into 23 programming tracks: 2050, Advertising & Brand Experience, Artificial Intelligence, Climate & Sustainability, Creating Film & TV, Creator Economy, Culture, Design, Energy, Fashion & Beauty, Film & TV Industry, Food, Game Industry, Government & Civic Engagement, Health & MedTech, Music & Tech, Music Industry, Psychedelics, Startups, Tech Industry, Transportation, Workplace, and XR.
Announced SXSW 2025 Keynotes:
- Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter for Creedence Clearwater Revival John Fogerty
- The Future of Social with Jay Graber, Bluesky CEO: The sky’s the limit for online platforms, but does the competitive social media market prioritize users’ best interests? Enter Bluesky, a public benefit company building an open and decentralized standard for social media. Since its public launch in February 2024, Bluesky has been surging in popularity with over 27.5M users, as it aims to fundamentally change the social media landscape and return choice to users.
Announced Featured Sessions include:
- “Fail Better” Live with David Duchovny: To be human is to fail – period. And not just to fail once, but to fail a lot. The X-Files thespian will be sitting down for a live taping of Lemonada Media’s Fail Better podcast, a weekly series where Duchovny and special guests unpack moments of failure, or what they have labeled as “failure,” but is really an unparalleled opportunity for growth and revelation.
- The Future of World-Building at Disney: Disney tells stories fans love, invites them into worlds they never dreamed possible, and then makes those places real. In this presentation, co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro, and special guests as they show the convergence of imagination, innovation, and the future of experiential storytelling.
- Mapping Music Tech Money, From Seed to Exit: Founder of Water & Music Cherie Hu will explore the evolving music tech investment landscape through three critical stages.
- Meet the Astronauts Going to the Moon with NASA’s Artemis II: Attendees will Learn firsthand from the Moon-bound astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission to deep space in over half a century. Following the successful Artemis I flight test in 2022, Artemis II will test the deep exploration systems needed to establish long-term infrastructure for human lunar exploration. Artemis II astronauts Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman are sitting down for the discussion.
- The Moment We’re In: Transitioning How We Move, Think and Change The Planet: The future of our planet’s climate will be determined for many generations to come by the decisions and actions we take over the next few decades as we transition our global economy away from fossil fuels. The companies and countries that lead this technological reset will establish the foundation for sustained technology leadership for the next hundred years. In this session, founder and CEO of Rivian RJ Scaringe will reflect on the scale of these changes and discuss how considering our great-grandchildren can help us as society navigates this exciting and critical moment in history.
- Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-ups Change the Future: In this session, co-founder and Partner at Floodgate Mike Maples will explore why some startups stumble into massive success while others, despite doing everything “right,” fall short. This session will challenge the traditional business narrative, aiming instead to inspire the next generation of pattern-breakers to defy today’s rules and create tomorrow’s.
- Powering Tomorrow: How Big Tech is Redefining the Future of Energy and AI: As the world transitions towards cleaner energy to address climate change, Big Tech is driving new innovations in nuclear energy, battery storage, AI, and more. Join Amazon’s Chief Sustainability Officer Kara Hurst and other energy industry leaders for a discussion on how corporations, startups, and energy companies are developing cutting-edge technologies and leading collaborative efforts that are paving the way for a new era of energy.
- Primal Instincts: Making Social “Social” Again: What role does / should social media play in our actual social lives? We are wired to need connection, but the more we connect with tech, the less we actually connect with each other. Social media was never enough. In this session, Emmy Award-nominated host, podcaster, public speaker, New York Times bestselling author, and founding partner and writer at Puck Baratunde Thurston will sit down with Mozi co-founders Molly DeWolf Swenson and Ev Williams to explore the intersection of IRL and the internet, and to discuss the past, present, and future of “social.”
- Prof G Predictions: 2025: In this presentation, serial entrepreneur, podcast host, New York Times bestselling author and Professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business Scott Galloway will share his annual predictions, examining consumer, tech, and business trends that will have the biggest impact in 2025. Using data-informed insights, he will share his vision for the trends and opportunities that will define the year ahead.
- Projecting Tomorrow: The Future of Holographic Technology: Imagine your favorite science-fiction movie – a future where physical objects can be replaced with nothing but light, and where digital objects can escape the screen and integrate seamlessly with reality. Would you believe that this future isn’t as far off as it may seem? Join columnist, author, professor, and co-host of the podcast This Week in XR Charlie Fink and CEO of Light Field Lab Jon Karafin as they discuss holography and how the technology is already being used today. Fink and Karafin will also look towards tomorrow, sharing insight into the future of holographic technology and the exciting advancements Light Field Lab is making within the field.
- Rebooting AI from the Ground Up: In this session, CEO of Humane Intelligence and the United States Envoy for Artificial Intelligence Dr. Rumman Chowdhury will explore the transformative potential of democratizing AI evaluation. Drawing from insights of 5,000 critical voices around the world, Chowdhury will discuss practical steps to rebuild AI systems that are transparent, fair, and accountable.
- Reproductive Freedom: Good for Workers, Good for Business: The battle over reproductive rights has intensified, with expected restrictions on medication abortion distribution and continued legal fights in the states over abortion restrictions. Meanwhile, voters supported abortion access in most states where it was on the ballot. New research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research shows that most workers want reproductive healthcare access, covered by their employers—and many are willing to move across state lines in order to get it. In this session, professor, podcast host, New York Times bestselling author, co-founder of HiddenLight Productions, and Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation Dr. Chelsea Clinton, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights Nancy Northup, and President and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research Dr. Jamila K. Taylor will come together for a discussion moderated by ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott, on the evolving legal landscape, tools for companies to navigate the complex operating environment, and how local leaders are fighting to protect their constituents.
- Speaking Truth to Crypto Power: As the crypto industry amasses unprecedented wealth and political influence, writer, researcher, software engineer, and founder of the website Web3 is Going Just Great Molly White’s clear-eyed critique has proven more necessary than ever. Since launching Web3 Is Going Just Great in 2021, White has meticulously documented the industry’s failures, frauds, and false promises. Once one of crypto’s few skeptics during peak hype, her analysis has shaped public understanding of the industry. In this session, White will discuss crypto’s growing political machinery, what’s at stake as the industry pushes for favorable legislation, and how this watershed moment could reshape both crypto regulation and the broader future of financial technology.
Announced Featured Speakers include:
- President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated Cristiano Amon
- Author and founder of Backstage Capital Arlan Hamilton
- Stand-up comedian, writer, actor, musician, and host of the podcast WTF with Marc Maron Marc Maron
