The 2026 South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival & Conference is gearing up for another major year in Austin, and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is once again bringing one of the festival’s most anticipated series of music showcases.
The performing rights organization announced that it will host five events spotlighting 34 artists and songwriters across multiple venues in Austin between March 11 and March 19, continuing its decades-long tradition of introducing emerging talent to the industry and fans alike.
As a founding SXSW sponsor for more than 30 years, BMI has played a key role in helping new artists break through. Many performers who appeared on BMI stages in past years have gone on to achieve mainstream success, making its showcases one of the festival’s most closely watched discovery platforms.
This year’s programming spans genres including pop, hip-hop, Latin, indie rock, country, R&B, folk, and alternative, reinforcing SXSW’s reputation as one of the most influential global music discovery events.
BMI’s SXSW 2026 Event Lineup
Howdy Texas Showcase
BMI will kick off its SXSW presence with the annual “Howdy Texas” party on March 11 at Güero’s Taco Bar on South Congress.
The free, public event will highlight six Texas-based artists performing between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., celebrating the diversity of the state’s music scene.
Performers include:
- Claire Hinkle
- Elijah Delgado
- Magna Carda
- Matt Kirk and The Güeyfarers
- MackMartin and The 4411
The lineup reflects Texas’ wide musical palette, blending pop, blues, jazz, R&B, and Texicana, a hybrid style rooted in the region’s cross-cultural influences.
YETI Music Showcase Presented by BMI
One of BMI’s largest SXSW activations returns to the YETI Flagship store on South Congress for a two-day showcase on March 12 and March 13.
The event will feature 14 full-band performances from emerging artists and is free to the public.
The showcase has become a staple stop during SXSW for fans looking to discover new acts in an intimate setting.
March 12 lineup
- Datura
- The Tullamarines
- Avery Cochrane
- Easy Honey
- The Sophs
- Timmy Skelly
- MEEK
March 13 lineup
- Raynes
- Grocery Bag
- The Pink Stones
- Joshua Ray Walker
- Deloyd Elze
- Yng Naz
- Susannah Joffe
In addition to the performances, the event will include drink specials, limited-edition merchandise designs, and brand activations from sponsors including Coca-Cola, Dogfish Head, Smartwater, Topo Chico, and White Claw.
The BMI Brunch
Another fan-favorite SXSW tradition returns on March 14 with the invite-only BMI Brunch, hosted this year by THEBROSFRESH.
The daytime event is widely known as one of the festival’s most sought-after industry gatherings, bringing together artists, songwriters, executives, and media.
This year’s performers include:
- Joy Oladokun
- Dizzy Fae
- She Returns From War
- NEZZA
- little luna
- The Band Loula
The brunch features two stages highlighting rising songwriters, giving industry insiders a first look at artists poised for breakout success.
BMI Writers in the Round at Luck Reunion
BMI’s SXSW presence extends beyond the official festival dates with BMI Writers in the Round, returning to Luck Reunion at Willie Nelson’s Luck Ranch on March 19.
Now in its fourth year, the intimate showcase takes place inside the Revival Tent and will feature songwriters:
- Julianna Rankin
- Emma Ogier
- Leon Majcen
The format allows artists to perform stripped-down versions of their songs while sharing stories behind the music.
BMI’s Role in SXSW’s Artist Discovery Pipeline
BMI’s showcases have historically served as launchpads for emerging artists, with alumni going on to become major names in music.
The organization represents more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and publishers worldwide, covering over 22.4 million musical works. Through licensing agreements and royalty distribution, BMI helps ensure that songwriters are compensated when their music is performed publicly.
Founded in 1939, BMI introduced an open-door policy that helped elevate genres like blues, jazz, country, and American roots music, giving a platform to artists who were previously overlooked by the industry.
Today, the company remains one of the world’s leading music rights organizations and continues to support songwriter development through programs like its SXSW showcases.
A Key Stop for Music Discovery
SXSW’s music festival runs March 12–18, 2026 in Austin, Texas, drawing thousands of artists, industry professionals, media outlets, and fans from around the world.
With dozens of rising acts performing across BMI’s stages, the organization’s events remain one of the best places during SXSW to catch the next wave of breakout talent before the rest of the world catches on.
More information about the showcases and set times is available at bmi.com/stages/sxsw2026, and fans can follow the conversation online using #BMISXSW.
