Top SXSW Parties — 2018 Edition

Are you and your team headed to SXSW?

Well, you’re not alone.

Over 80,000 people are expected to attend the festival — which means there will be plenty of opportunities to foster connections and network with new faces.

Below, you’ll find some of the top parties and events at SXSW for marketing and sales executives, founders, entrepreneurs, and many more. SXSW isn’t all about the parties and networking, but the serendipity that happens in the moment of these kinds of events is too sweet to pass up.

Take a look at the top SXSW parties below. Some include RSVP links while others are private, invite-only events.

Have an event you’d like to feature? Email us at hello@summitsync.com

March 9

Or/Not Daily Symposium

All day

Meet Gary Vaynerchuk, Bonin Bough, and Michael Loeb at one of the top events at SXSW 2018. Join 200+ VIP leaders in technology from around the world to discuss CPG, Marketing, Smart Cities, Blockchain, AR, AI, VR, IOT, Banking, and Mobility. Don’t miss this insightful and inspiring three-day event starting March 9th.

Speakeasy Arcade presented by Nest

11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Vox Media, Polygon, and Nest have come together to bring you back to your childhood with some of your favorite arcade games.

Verizon Ventures

5:30–8:30 p.m.

Join the Verizon team for a bit of networking and cocktails at their speakeasy-themed event at SXSW. Oh, and don’t forget to catch the Israel Managing Director Merav Rotem Naaman speaking on a panel about ‘Corporate VC: The Firms, The Myths, The Legends.’

Women in Tech Happy Hour

6–9 p.m.

Network with other women in tech at Zilker Brewing and Taproom in the heart of Austin. Hosted by R/GA Ventures, this event is meant to facilitate new connections and foster old ones. Oh, and men are welcome to come.

TechSet’s SXSW 2018 Annual Kickoff Party

8–11 p.m.

The (in)famous party is back this year and is expected to be bigger and badder than ever before. Join Swytch, HYP3R, and TechSet to kick-off SXSW at a brand new bar in Austin.

March 10

Series B‑reakfast

8–11 a.m.

Join teams from ReviewTrackers, American Family Ventures, Gener8tor, and CSA Ventures for a light breakfast and big networking.

The Mobile Growth House: Mobile Meat-up ATX

9 a.m.–8 p.m.

This exciting all-day event is hosted by Grow.co, Google, Urban Airship, Kochava, Branch, and so many other amazing companies. Meet with other mobile marketers, product folks, and founders while listening to panelists deep dive into the future of mobile.

Hustle House

9 a.m.–8 p.m.

This event is exclusively for black and brown innovators, visionaries, and changemakers. You do not need a festival badge to get into this exciting event featuring an incredible lineup of speakers.

Startup Night SXSW 2018 Presented by the Kauffman Foundation & TechCo

8 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

Celebrate startups, entrepreneurship, and inclusivity in one of the top networking events at SXSW. They’ve been throwing this one for a decade, so it’s a must go, especially if you’re newer on the SXSW scene.

YEC Founders Lounge

11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Young Entrepreneur Council is hosting a lounge at Moonfire Lounge, a mere four blocks from the main convention center. This event is invite-only.

MDC Partners: Cocktails and Conversations

1:30–4 p.m.

We love a good cocktail and a great conversation. This event promises both but requires an RSVP.

Percolate’s SXSW Happy Hour

1:30–4:30 p.m.

Join the Percolate team and your peers for a happy hour at CRÚ Food and Wine Bar.

Greycroft Pritzker Brunch

11 a.m.–???

Did someone say bottomless mimosas? Join the team for a relaxing brunch with founders and VCs.

The CMO Clubhouse

3 p.m.

Join other top marketing executives for an afternoon of conversations and networking around the future of marketing.

The Bad Crypto Meetup

5–7 p.m.

Who would have thought there would be a ridiculous amount of crypto folks at SXSW? Meet up with others to discuss all things blockchain with the creators of The Bad Crypto Podcast.

Andreessen Horowitz Cocktails

5–8 p.m.

This exclusive invite-only event features networking amongst some of the best and brightest.

Want to be notified when we update the list and receive access to other networking lists at events like Cannes Lions, CES, and more?

Big Data, Austin

7–10 p.m.

This event features exciting talks from renowned data scientists in a relaxed environment fueled by beer, pizza, and networking.

Fintech Luminaries

5–8 p.m.

Join a large, curated group of FinTech influencers, executives, VCs, and entrepreneurs for cocktails, appetizers, and connections. This event is one of the top SXSW parties, so the location is emailed after registration is confirmed.

YEC Millennial’s Party

8 p.m.–12 a.m.

YEC is also hosting an event in the evening to keep the networking going. Join the team and other young entrepreneurs and start your SXSW off right. This event is invite-only.

March 11

Brunch at Capital One House

9–10:30 a.m.

Join industry influencers as the Capital One team discusses industry trends and more at this early morning brunch.

Annual Boozy Brunch: Dealmakers

10 a.m.–12 p.m.

The Landmark Ventures team is gathering the top Fortune 500 CMOs, Chief Digital Officers, Venture Capitalists, Entrepreneurs, and other top executives across the digital marketing, technology, and media ecosystem at this invite-only brunch.

TechCrunch’s Crunch by Crunch Fest

12–4 p.m.

TechCrunch and Splash have teamed up to bring one of the best musical lineups along with tons of networking to this exclusive event.

Pinterest House

10 a.m.–5 p.m.

This event is open to the masses and features three panels on topics like everyday tastemakers, and building a brand in the 21st-century.

Women Funding Women Austin

12:30–3:30 p.m.

Learn from women who are entrepreneurs and investors themselves in this exciting event. You’ll hear from a few panelists and four revenue-generating, women-led companies where you’ll be able to give feedback.

London & Partners: Meet the Mayor

5:30–7:30 p.m.

We’re not joking when we say it’s meet the mayor. Join the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to discuss the importance of gender equality and inclusivity in the tech sector.

Tumblr’s Show Up Meetup

7 p.m.–???

Tumblr decided to show up to this year’s SXSW with an incredible lineup of artists. Maybe it’s time to log back into your angsty Tumblr account and party like it’s 2009.

Magic Hours: Sunday Showcase

7 p.m.–1 a.m.

Splash is back at SXSW and hosting a bigger than life party with partners including Zendesk, TechCrunch, Medialink, and many others. This is a free, 21+ event available to the public.

Social Native’s New Orlean’s Party

8:30 p.m.

In partnership with Snaps, this event is hosted in a well known Victorian house with a New Orleans flair. Get ready to talk content and influencer marketing while networking with your peers at this afterparty.

March 12

2018 Women in Digital SXSW Official Rally & Party

4:30–8 p.m.

Some of the most powerful women in digital are joining forces for the second time in a year. There are some incredible panelists and the sponsors are all catered towards advancing women in the digital space. Definitely a can’t miss SXSW party for any woman in digital.

Rooftop Escape with Wildcat Venture Partners + ATX Seed Ventures

5:30–8:30 p.m.

Join the teams at Green Light Social to escape the noise and discover real connections at this refreshing event.

ATL House Party presented by Hustle Gang

10 p.m.–1 a.m.

Some of the best artists from Atlanta are performing at this free event, including Grammy-winning artist T.I. Before the party, join the artists for a talk about “Scaling Culture + Community with The Gathering Spot.”

March 13

SoundCloud + Zelle’s Room Five One Two

8 p.m.–??

SoundCloud and Zelle are coming together for two days on March 12 and 13 to celebrate artists, creators, and music fans. This is an invite-only event.

March 15

Sony’s Lost in Music Party

7 p.m.–1 a.m.

Join the Sony team and hundreds of other SXSW attendees for one of the top parties. This year, Khalid is playing in a “dreamscape” environment. We’re not quite sure what that means, but we’re pretty excited to find out.

March 17

Unofficial SXSW Silent Disco Beach Party

10 p.m.–2 a.m.

It’s pretty much what it sounds like — a huge silent disco beach party—but also, it’s St. Patrick’s day so make sure you wear a little green while you jam to three different DJs.

Don’t forget about the ROI

Alright, we had to say it. While SXSW is a fun festival, most teams are still expected to generate a positive ROI. Get your team prepared to own Austin by preparing for event success and as always, make sure you have a plan to follow up with all of your leads at the big event.

We hope you crush all of your goals (while having a bit of fun) at SXSW!