SXSW London has announced speakers for its 2026 festival conference, a lineup that includes Neon founder Tom Quinn, Hinge CEO Jackie Gantos, and Bluesky COO Rose Wang.
Starting in the first week of June, the second SXSW London will once again take over Shoreditch in East London, promising unique and informative experiences across business, technology, music, film and TV.
The six main themes that make up the festival’s conference strand are ‘AI as the New Power Structure’, ‘Live Longer, Live Better’, ‘Culture Can Save Humanity’, ‘Rewiring Society’, ‘Creativity in the Age of Algorithms’ and ‘Futurism in Practice’.
The line-up also includes actress Sophia Bush, YouTube star Markiplier, British footballer turned broadcaster Jill Scott, WPP CEO Cindy Rose, former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Made in Chelsea His kind employer Jamie Laing, The Streets musician Mike Skinner, BFI Film Fund director Mia Bays, and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club chief executive Vinay Venkatesham.
They join the previously announced Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, who will appear to discuss the release of his socially-minded brand from Unilever and how the social mission remains at the heart of commercial success. Check out the full list of speakers here.
“SXSW London is all about the idea of convergence, of bringing together sounds – even unexpected pairings – in ways that rarely happen elsewhere,” said Katie Arnander, Director of Programming. “This year’s agenda takes this idea even further. From groundbreaking technology and medical innovation to music, activism and the creator economy, the program strikes a powerful balance between tension and harmony, ultimately cultivating a space for healthy debate.”
“By providing a space for this collision of ideas, SXSW London is the place for any business leader, venture capitalist or marketer to gain insights, discover innovative concepts and expand their professional networks,” she added.
Last week, the festival revealed the first musical acts scheduled to perform at this year’s edition, including Tiwa Savage, Earl Sweatshirt and Rachel Chinouriri. The SXSW London Music Festival will once again bring together artists from around the world, presenting “emerging sounds and underground scenes alongside established acts” including Nigerian rapper ODUMODUBLVCK and indie rock band Circa Waves.
