My SXSW 2026 tech information

Each 12 months, a few of the greatest names in know-how, media, movie, TV, and music head to downtown Austin for SXSW. They collect to speak in regards to the future, image what it might convey, and ask how quickly that future could arrive. SXSW 2026 offers you a spot to satisfy, carry out, join, and share concepts.

Music pulls me in first. I wrestle to call one other competition the place hundreds of artists play reveals throughout a whole metropolis. Still, my tech at SXSW 2026 information goals to indicate that know-how stands by itself right here. From Rivian to MKBHD and Nothing, there’s loads of content material to discover.

Electric SUV: Rivian R2

Rivian has teased the R2 for fairly a while. The firm presents it as a smaller and extra attainable model of the well-loved R1S. From what I’ve learn, the R1S feels intuitive to drive and presents a cabin with area and luxury, even in the event you place a few youngsters within the third row. That observe report units excessive expectations for the Rivian R2.

The R2 begins at $48,490 for the bottom Standard trim and rises to $57,990 for the Performance trim with the Launch Package. That value nonetheless calls for a strong funds, but the specs make a robust case. The SUV can ship as much as 656 horsepower and attain 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Highway acceleration from 50–70 mph can take as little as 1.55 seconds. Those numbers could tempt drivers who need sturdy efficiency with on a regular basis use.

I control how automakers use AI, and the trade appears to face at a turning level. Many folks suppose AI in automobiles means self-driving autos. The bigger impression occurs behind the scenes.

The R2 makes use of an AI-ready structure that mixes 5G-connected processing with offline functionality and tactile {hardware}. Rivian positioned haptic dials on the redesigned steering wheel. These giant scroll wheels allow you to regulate quantity, fan pace, and temperature whereas your eyes keep on the path.

Some new automobiles place each management on a contact display. Simple duties, similar to reducing the fan pace, could require a number of menu steps whereas the display responds. That design feels unusual to me. Automakers warn drivers about telephone use, but many automobiles place giant tablets on the dashboard. Rivian retains bodily controls inside attain, so you’ll find a button by contact and maintain your give attention to the highway.

Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast Live

Marques Brownlee is among the many greatest tech reviewers on the earth. His channel, MKBHD, has greater than 20 million subscribers. Viewers tune in for detailed video opinions of the most recent know-how and devices. When I anticipate a brand new product to ship to my residence nation, Armenia, I usually examine his movies first to get an preliminary impression.

In the Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast Live, Brownlee and co-hosts Andrew Manganelli and David Imel dive into many matters. Expect discussions about Apple units, the HONOR Robot Phone, and privateness issues round Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Featured Session: A Conversation with Nothing’s CEO and Co-Founder Carl Pei

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro

True-blood midranger with 140x extremely zoom

Carl Pei began Nothing in 2020 with the objective of constructing shopper know-how much less monotonous. He argues that smartphones have grow to be boring, with small enhancements in batteries, screens, and cameras. I can see how the Nothing crew responds to that problem.

I like the economic design of Nothing telephones. When I first noticed press pictures of the first-generation Nothing Phone, the design regarded uncommon and unfamiliar. Over time, I grew to understand it. The London-based firm now releases a few of the best-looking telephones I’ve seen. If you need to study the place Nothing is heading, join Carl Pei on the JW Marriott, Salon 6–8 on March 18.

Related: Nothing Phone (4a) Pro vs. Google Pixel 10a: Which midrange telephone wins for you?

Carl will mirror on how the patron know-how trade turned closed and predictable, and why the subsequent period requires a special mindset. He will share his perspective on main shifts throughout the trade, together with the rise of AI-native {hardware} and the function AI now performs within the product expertise. The dialog can even cowl Nothing’s subsequent chapter, from its continued push into audio to the model’s increasing retail presence with new shops deliberate throughout New York City, Tokyo, London, and India.

What’s subsequent

The 2026 South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference & Festivals takes place from Thursday, March 12 to Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Austin, Texas. This 12 months, all main parts—Music, Film & TV, and Innovation—run concurrently over the seven-day interval.

Parting ideas

SXSW at all times leaves me with a way that the longer term sits nearer than we expect. As I look throughout every little thing at SXSW 2026—from Rivian’s subsequent electrical SUV to know-how conversations on stage—I see an occasion that mixes creativeness with actual merchandise.

I take pleasure in how the competition blends massive concepts, design, and efficiency throughout all the metropolis. When you stroll by Austin throughout SXSW, you may transfer from a live performance to a tech speak and really feel the identical artistic vitality in each areas. If you attend, it’s possible you’ll depart with recent concepts, new inspiration, and a clearer view of the place know-how could head subsequent. For me, that blend of curiosity, dialogue, and discovery makes SXSW some of the thrilling occasions of the 12 months.

Grigor Baklajyan is a copywriter masking know-how at Gadget Flow. His contributions embrace product opinions, shopping for guides, how-to articles, and extra.