Expression of Interest for 2026 closes on December 28!
REQUIREMENTS FOR 2026 ARE UPDATED!
SXSW 2026 spans seven days, from Thursday, March 12 - Wednesday, March 18.
Members of the Photo Crew will shoot a six-day schedule during SXSW.
Two of those days (Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14) are mandatory.
Members will choose which four additional days they shoot.
**If you are unable to commit to a six-day schedule during SXSW, including both mandatory days, you will not be eligible for the Photo Crew.**
For the six days of your schedule, you must be available ANY TIME, day or night (9am-2am)
This means you need to completely clear your schedule of commitments on the days of SXSW that you select
This DOES NOT mean you will be shooting from 9am-2am every day
See SCHEDULES, SHIFTS & ASSIGNMENTS to learn how we schedule your time on the days you select.
Photo Crew Introduction + One-on-One Q&A with a Crew Manager
You will receive an email from a Crew Manager to schedule your one-on-one
One on ones last around 45 minutes.
Photographers will participate via an online meeting platform.
A meeting link will be sent to you via email.
Photo Upload Training
All photos will be uploaded directly into SXSW's digital asset management (DAM) system
Training will include how to login, upload photos to the correct location, how to configure your metadata, and will require test images to be uploaded and checked by our DAM Coordinator
Training will take place online. Dates and times TBD
Photo Crew Orientation Meeting
ONLINE
Thursday, March 5, 2026; 7pm Central Time (time subject to change)
For those outside the Austin Area
IN PERSON
Sunday, March 8, 2025; 2pm-5pm (time subject to change, location tbd)
For those local to the Austin Area (or already in town)
All correspondence about meetings will come via email.
After SXSW you have 16 days to select, edit, organize and turn in your best photos from each assignment
Photo turn-in deadline is Friday, April 3, 2026
You must follow all of SXSW's metadata requirements and file naming conventions
All requirements and turn-in instructions will be communicated to you prior to the start of SXSW