SXSW London has announced the first wave of artists for its 2026 edition, with names including Earl Sweatshirt, Tiwa Savage, and Rachel Chinouriri set to perform.
Returning after its inaugural year, the festival will once again transform East London into a multi-venue hub of live music, bringing together emerging talent and established names from across the globe. The 2026 edition runs from 1st June to 6th June, with events spread across Shoreditch’s clubs, venues and cultural spaces.
The first line-up announcement reflects that global ambition. Alongside Earl Sweatshirt and Tiwa Savage, the bill includes Nigerian artist ODUMODUBLVCK, US sibling group Infinity Song, London-based singer-songwriter Amaria BB, electronic producer Sega Bodega, post-punk band Shame, indie outfit Circa Waves, producer Fraser T Smith, and DJ Pete Tong.
The festival positions itself as a meeting point between local scenes and international audiences, aiming to highlight the diversity of contemporary music culture.
Adem Holness, Head of Music at SXSW London, emphasises the importance of community in shaping that vision.
“At a moment when technology can generate endless music, what really shapes the future are the communities and scenes where artists push culture forward in their own contexts,” he says. “SXSW London brings those global scenes together in one place.”
He points to the breadth of artists on the bill as an example of that approach, from Sega Bodega’s experimental electronic performances to Shame’s independent rise and ODUMODUBLVCK’s genre-crossing sound.
“The future of music isn’t uniform.”
Alongside the line-up, SXSW London has also confirmed that its music programme is being curated in collaboration with a wide network of industry figures. Around 100 programmers from organisations including Tileyard, Universal Music, Koko, Village Underground and Dreamland are involved in selecting artists for the festival.
Music wristbands for SXSW London 2026 are on sale now.
