AUSTIN, Texas — Central Texas music and film fans who want to attend South by Southwest (SXSW) but don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars can now purchase wristbands.
Wristbands are only available to people whose credit cards have billing addresses in the greater Austin area. You can check to see if your ZIP code is approved on the pages dedicated to Music Festival wristbands and Film & TV Festival wristbands.
Music wristbands start at $149 and ensure that you won't pay a cover charge to see official SXSW Music Festival and Comedy Showcases at more than 75 stages from March 11 to March 16. The wristbands don't, however, guarantee you admission to every SXSW event.
SXSW Music and Platinum badges have priority entry over wristbands, but Music wristbands have secondary access to Music Festival Showcases with Interactive and Film & TV badges. Music wristbands also have secondary access to all badge types for Comedy Festival programming.
Music wristband holders don't have access to Conference or Film & TV Festival programming, the International Day Stage, the Radio Day Stage or guaranteed access to activations. Music wristband holders can, however, utilize the SXSW Festival Shuttle.
Meanwhile, Film & TV wristbands start at $120 and grant holders secondary access to more than 300 screenings and Comedy showcases from March 8 through March 16.
SXSW Film & TV and Platinum badges have priority entry over wristbands, but Film & TV wristbands have secondary access to screenings with Interactive and Music badges after the primary access line has been seated. Film & TV wristbands also have secondary access to all badge types for Comedy Festival programming.
SXSW said the best bet venues for Film & TV wristband holders are the Paramount Theatre, the ZACH Theatre, the Rollins Theatre at The Long Center and the Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema. SXSW said second screenings and daytime screenings are often good bets for wristband holders, but the wristband is not recommended for Headliners screenings or larger profile screenings with red carpets.
Film & TV wristband holders don't have access to Conference programming, Music showcases, the International Day Stage, the Radio Day Stage or guaranteed access to activations. Film & TV wristband holders can, however, utilize the SXSW Festival Shuttle.