Everyone is welcome at SXSW EDU. We strive to make our conference and festivals accessible to the largest number of people possible, and are always looking at ways to remove barriers. If you have accessibility requirements, please contact accessibility@sxsw.com so we can work together to find a reasonable accommodation for your request. This page will be updated with additional accessibility information as it becomes available. Please check back often.

Please fill out our Accessibility Accommodation Form to submit your request to the SXSW EDU Accessibility Team.

Accessibility Accommodations Form

The deadline for accommodation requests for SXSW EDU 2026 is February 23, 2026. We will do our best to honor requests after the deadline, however services cannot be guaranteed.

• Email: accessibility@sxsw.com
• Phone: 512-484-9130 (Call or Text)

An Accessibility Designated SXSW EDU Badge will provide badgeholders access to reserved accessibility features such as designated seating, priority entry to avoid lines, use of the accessibility shuttle, and the ability to request a Companion Wristband.

To request Accessibility Designated be added to your SXSW EDU badge, please email reg@sxsw.com. Though we can add this for attendees onsite, it makes the process much faster if it has already been added.

All registrants must pick up their own credentials by showing their government-issued photo ID at Registration.

Those with Accessibility Designation have the option of using Accessibility entry and Accessibility/ASL seating during our event. Those who are using Accessibility entry are encouraged to head to the front of the line and show the ‘A’ on their badge to the SXSW team member admitting attendees.

All accessibility designated SXSW EDU accessible seating is based on capacity and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Events with Added Accessibility Features

Finding Added Accessibility Features: The SXSW EDU schedule has filters to help attendees find the events that have added accessibility features. Select 'Accessibility' from the top of the list of filters. This will show the different accessibility options to choose from. Check the box for the feature needed, and the schedule will update to show only the events that have that available.

Below, you'll find descriptions of each accessibility feature. You are able to click on the name of any feature to open a pre-filtered schedule with the list of events that include that type of accessibility.

Note: Many events have multiple accessibility features.

Open Captioning (OC): Live Open Captioning available on the screen for all viewers.
Closed Captioning (CC): Live Closed Captioning available on attendees personal device.
American Sign Language (ASL): American Sign Language interpretation for the audience. Placed in front of the ASL/Accessibility reserved seating area.

SXSW doesn’t offer personal assistance like one-on-one interpreters, aides, or guides. If attendees need to use this type of service during the event, a Companion Wristband can be requested. This wristband allows attendees to bring the person of their choice to provide these services without them needing to purchase an additional badge.

The Companion Wristband is linked to the requesting attendees badge and only allows the companion entry to events when they are together. The wristband will not grant access to any SXSW events.

Companions that have an additional credential of their own are still encouraged to get a wristband from us to ensure they are not separated from the Accessibility Designated attendee they are assisting while taking the accessibility shuttle or using accessibility reserved seating.

Companion Wristbands can be picked up at the Accessibility Help Desk inside of the Registration rooms. Both the badge holder and the companion must be present and have proper identification at the time of pick up.

Please contact accessibility@sxsw.com for more information about Companion Wristbands.

ASL Interpreting

SXSW provides ASL Interpreters automatically for many of our large events and by attendee/presenter request. To view which conference sessions have already been assigned ASL interpreters, select the American Sign Language option under the Accessibility filter on our web or SXSW GO schedule.

SXSW does not provide 1:1 ASL Interpreters to accompany individuals throughout the festival. If you would like to bring your own 1:1 interpreter, check out our Companion Wristband option above.

The deadline for requests for ASL interpreters is February 23, 2026 but we prefer them as soon as possible so we can assure the best quality. These can be submitted to accessibility@sxsw.com. If there are last minute requests for ASL interpreters, please contact accessibility@sxsw.com. Though we cannot guarantee our ability to add interpreters after the deadline, we would love to try.

Captions

We offer a mixture of open and closed captioning throughout our conference sessions. Captions are added automatically to most sessions. To view which conference sessions have been scheduled to provide captioning, select the captioning options under the Accessibility filter on schedule.

Closed captions are accessed from the user's personal device via QR code available in the room. There will also be a link to the closed captioning on this page throughout the festival.

The deadline to request additional captioned events is February 23, 2026. These can be submitted to accessibility@sxsw.com. If there are last minute requests for captioning that is not already provided, please contact accessibility@sxsw.com. Though we cannot guarantee our ability to add captioning after the deadline, we would love to try.

Please contact accessibility@sxsw.com for more information.

To request an accessible room online with SXSW EDU Housing & Travel, choose your ideal hotel from our available hotel rooms and follow the steps to book. When you reach the “special request field” in step 3 of the booking process (where you’ll also enter your payment information), let us know that you require an accessible room and any other additional details about your stay. We’ll pass this information along to the hotel so they can accommodate your request.

SXSW EDU allows ADA-recognized service animals explicitly trained to assist a person with disabilities at all events. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.

Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and are not permitted at SXSW EDU events.

If you are bringing a service animal, we ask that you register your service animal at one of the Accessibility Help Desks. You will receive a SXSW Service Animal tag that signals to all staff and volunteers that this animal is working and you have been in touch with the Accessibility Team.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with PTSD, dementia, autism, and other similar conditions (1 in 4 individuals). One of the significant barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise, which is an enormous part of this environment.

Sensory items such as fidgets, ear plugs, and KultureCity Sensory Bags are available at the Accessibility Help Desks located in all Registration Rooms and in our Sensory Room.

Sensory Room

Kulture City Sensory Room
Room 417A - Hilton
10:00am - 5:00pm

Transportation

Transportation can be a challenge for everyone attending SXSW EDU. Our advice to attendees is to utilize public transportation, rideshare, or taxi service when available. All public transportation methods have an accessible option.

While on site, we have a SXSW EDU Accessibility shuttle to assist those with accessibility needs in getting from building to building. This shuttle is available on demand for registrants with an accessibility credential and their companion. These shuttles service every stop on the route, but do not deviate from any of the regular stops/routes.

The phone number to contact the Accessibility Shuttle will be listed here throughout the festival.

Parking

If you have a government issued disabled hang tag or license plate, you don’t have to pay the parking meters. Private parking lots and garages may have different rules and regulations.

At SXSW EDU, wheelchairs and 3- or 4-wheel electric scooters, walkers, canes, and crutches are allowed and are reasonably accommodated. Please know that SXSW EDU does not provide push services for attendees. For safety reasons, requests to use other power-driven mobility devices will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please email accessibility@sxsw.com.

Repair/Rental

There is no equipment rental of any kind offered by SXSW EDU. Please make your own mobility accommodations, if required. If you need assistance email accessibility@sxsw.com and we will help provide options within the Greater Austin Area.