<P> South by Southwest ( abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By ) is an annual conglomerate of film , interactive media , and music festivals and conferences that take place in mid-March in Austin , Texas , United States . It began in 1987 , and has continued to grow in both scope and size every year . In 2017 , the conference lasted for 10 days with SXSW interactive lasting for five days , music for seven days and film running concurrently for nine days . Comedy and gaming components to the festival are particularly fast - growing . </P>
when does south by southwest start in austin texas
mid-March