This year's SXSW features some acts that you may have already heard of and a whole bunch that are soon going to be topping the charts; along with music and film, there's a whole host SXSW must-sees that you will find this year.
This year, watch out for the premiere of edible cookie shot glasses, from the same creator of the Cronut, and the IBM food truck that creates delicious food pairings based on a computer's opinion (chocolate burritos anyone?) There is a lot of new creations that'll help you find your way around the festival, and of course you're sure to find some traditional festival go-tos like vibrant tents and discreet beer coolers.
Since 1987, SXSW has sparked traditions and made memories; the whole festival is made possible by creative and supportive people, be it fans, musicians, speakers, designers and creators. If you're heading down to Austin, be sure to check out all the city has to offer and stay connected with SXSW.
18 Exciting SXSW Innovations
This List Honors the Most Conventional and Bizarre SXSW Must-Sees:
Janelle Savel — Mar 10, 2014 — Fashion
18
Pop-Up Portable Coffee Shops
The Nescafe Nomadic Cafe Center Gives You Your Caffeine Kick Anywhere
17
Glutinous Computer Food Trucks
IBM Technology Truck Thinks Like a Human Stomach
16
Explosive 3D Street Art
This Mural Gets Three Dimensional with a Tank Jumping Out of a Wall
15
Edible Customized 3D Cookies
Twitter and Mondelēz Partner Up to Create 3D-Printed Oreos
14
Edible Cookie Shot Glasses
Dominique Ansel Has Created Yet Another Mouthwatering Combination
13
Real Life Video Games
SXSW's Mario Karting Reimagined is a Different Kind of Augmented Reality
12
Introverted People-Avoiding Apps
The Avoid Humans App Finds Secluded Places for SXSW Visitors
11
Feline Festival Memes
SXSW Cat Stereotypes by Traction Captures Entertaining Characters
10
Swag Donation Startup Giveaways
These Start-Ups are Donating Their SXSW Swag to the Homeless
9
Solar-Powered Carousels
The GE SXSW Merry-Go-Round is a Sun-Soaking Attraction
8
Vibrant Solar Powered Tents
The Bang Bang Tents Keep You Dry and Your Gadgets Charged
7
Collaborative Festival Music Apps
The iTunes Festival App Combines with SXSW to Deliver Free Music
6
Trustworthy Social Sharing Apps
The Open Messaging Platform App Omlet Debuted at the SXSW 2014
5
Aerial Crime Fighting Drones
The CUPID Drone Prototype Made Its Debut at the SXSW 2014 Conference
4
Zombie-Themed Festival Infographics
These Zombie Apocalypse Stats are Perfect for Summer
3
Concert-Navigating Apps
The SXSW App Helps You Plan Your Schedule to Make the Most of Your Stay
2
SXSW Sneakers
Supra Stubb's Skytop SXSW Edition is for Serious Music Fans
1
Crowdsourced Film Premieres
The Veronica Mars SXSW Movie Premiere Gives Fans a Coveted Sneak Peek
Related Ideas
Film-Centric Mixology Kits
The Absolut x WICKED Exclusive Cocktail Kit Boasts Hidden Surprises
Mixologist-Crafted Beverage Creations
PepsiCo will Host a 'DRIPS by Pepsi' Pop-Up in New York
Experimental Film Motels
The Mountain Dew Borderlands Motel Brings the Video Game to Life
Characterized Filmic Drinkware
Starbucks Debuts Wicked-Inspired Drinkware
Witchy Halloween Float Drinks
Sonic's New Witch’s Brew Slush Float is Coming Soon
Nostalgic Nugget Trucks
KFC's Sauce Serve Truck Lets Fans Dress Their Own Saucy Nuggets
Unconventional RTD Cocktails
Barcelona's Las Jelly's is Creating a New Drinking Experience
All-Black QSR Slush Drinks
The Sonic Blackout Slush Float Celebrates the Total Solar Eclipse
Fruit-Stand-Inspired Vodka Pop-Ups
Kylie Jenner’s Canned Vodka Soda will Host an Event in NYC
Mobile Truck Gloss Pop-Ups
Glossier Brings Balm DotWorld Mobile Truck to NYC This Summer
Icon-Led Travel Experiences
Airbnb Icons Offers Experiences Hosted by Icons in Music, Film, & More
Coffin-Shaped Ice Cream Tubs
The Alchemist by JDO Satisfies Consumers' Desire for the Unexpected
Surrealist Phone Cases
The Salvador Dalí x CASETiFY Collab Elevates Everyday Accessories into Art
Toasted Marshmallow Whiskeys
Swiss Miss and Hotel Tango Distillery Concoct the ’Shmallow Whiskey
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Playful Modern Art Shows
Brent Estabrook Debuts 'Storytime' at the Maddox Gallery in Switzerland
QSR Brand Holiday Ornaments
The 2024 Shake Shack Holiday Merch Collection Just Dropped
Takeaway Tasting Menus
Ynyshir Partners with Uber Eats to Create a Tasting Menu for Home Delivery
Box-Office-Themed Travel Pop-Ups
Intrepid x TIFF Host an Experiential Travel Activation
Film-Inspired Cocktail Experiences
Absolut Vodka Hosted a Wicked Cocktail Event in NYC
Entertainment Industry Expansions
Starbucks Enters the Entertainment Industry as Starbucks Studio
Ice Cream Sandwich Pop-Ups
Chips Ahoy! Pop-Up to Serve Free Ice Cream in NYC
Extra-Frosty QSR Dessert Drinks
These New Wendy's Frosty Menu Items are Arriving for Summer
Espresso Martini Festivals
The Mr Black Espresso Martini Festival Shares One-Off Serves
Bar-Quality Canned Cocktails
Wonderland Cocktails Launched Five New Canned Refreshments
Beer-Inspired Ice Creams
Salt & Straw Created the The Brewers Series with Five Craft Breweries
Immersive Multimedia Experiences
Sony Pictures' Wonderverse is an Engaging Entertainment Stop
Immersive Entertainment Venues
Netflix Houses Feature Eateries, Experiential Activities & More
Branded Cracker Food Trucks
The Cheez Wheelz Food Truck Serves Fare Packed with Cheez-Its
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Drink-Shaped Gaming Devices
7-Eleven is Giving Fans the Chance to Win a Slurpee-Shaped Tetris Game
Dynamic Miniature Music Stages
Love Hultén Joins Way Out West on the Future Fan Stage
Comprehensive Self-Care Events
The Wellness Oasis™ is Running During Miami Art Week 2024
Festive Feast Ice Creams
Salt & Straw Added New Thanksgiving-Themed Ice Creams to Its Lineup
Trophy-Inspired Toaster Designs
The Pop-Tarts Bowl and Ge Appliances Collaboration is Cheeky
Inaugural Paper Lantern Festivals
Singapore Will Host Its First Sky Lantern Festival
Toronto Cannabis Workshops
The Cannabinista Hosted an Infused Mocktail Workshop in Toronto
Industrial Design Exhibits
Design Burger Hosted a 'Design Dialogues Exhibit' in London
Culinary Pop-Up Experiences
The RC Show's Pop-Up Experience is an Adventure for the Taste Buds
Pop Art Creative Collections
The KAWS + Warhol UT Collection Caters to Art Lovers
Hydration-Branded Ice Cream Trucks
Liquid I.VV.® Debuts Its Ice Cream Truck Tour
Comforting QSR Winter Menus
The Latest SONIC Drive-In Winter Menu Arrives November 4
Unconventional Holiday Campaigns
Chloe Surreal X Sundae School's Holiday Campaign Challenges Norms
Retro QSR Menus
The Taco Bell Decades Menu Revisits Favorites from Past Decades
Festive Bourbon Pop-Ups
The Winter Wheat Wonderland Brings a Taste of Kentucky to NYC
Vodka-Branded Festival Series
Absolut® Presents Mixing It Up: Cosmos & Culture at Coachella 2024
QSR Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
Alcohol-Centric Pop-Ups
Maker’s Mark Bourbon Hosts an Immersive Holiday Experience
Haunting Halloween Ice Creams
Salt & Straw's Halloween Ice Cream Flavors Share Sensory Adventures
Transportive Italian Pop-Ups
House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro Hosts an Immersive Event at TIFF 2024
Exclusive Art-Inspired Dining Events
Art Basel Miami 2024 Hosts the Dinner of the Year @ Art Week
City-Themed Drinkware Collections
Starbucks Unveils its Expansive American 'Discovery Series'
Multisensory Cocktail Menus
Synaesthesia Inspired the Spectrum Cocktail Menu at Fitz’s
Vegas-Inspired Dining Experiences
Tost by Tostitos is an Exclusive Super Bowl Pop-Up
Fashion Lifestyle Pop-Up Events
Sundae School Hosts Their First Pop-Up in London
Multi-Sensory Ice Pops
Bomb Pop Extremes Start Off Sour or Spicy and Transition to Sweet
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
Spicy-Sweet Cinema Snacks
Cinemark and Mike’s Hot Honey Partnered for Swicy Snacks and Drinks
Complimentary Soup Trucks
The Good Humor Soup Truck is Sharing Free Soup in NYC
Flavorful Pickleball Celebrations
Smirnoff SMASH Vodka Soda's Event Highlighted Unique Mashups
Expansive Tex-Mex QSR Menus
These New Taco Bell Menu Items are Arriving for 2024
Chain Restaurant Food Festivals
Chain is the Worlds First Gourmet Chain Food Festival
Beer Brand-Supported Fashion Shows
Fashion Art Toronto Has Partnered with Kronenbourg 1664
Mysterious Cafe Drinks
Scooter's Coffee Mystery Drink Encourages Customers to Take a Guess
S'more-Packed Ice Creams
These New Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes Focus on Toasted Marshmallows
Exclusive 420 Ice Creams
Doobie & Morgenstern’s Collaborated on Doobie Scoobie Snacks
Savory-Sweet Dessert Bagels
Museum of Ice Cream & Ess-A-Bagel Collaborated on an Ice-A-Bagel
Streaming Service Installations
Hulu Returns to Comic-Con San Diego with its Animayhem Activation
Beer-Branded Fashion Capsules
805 Beer Has Unveiled Its Latest Spring 2024 Fashion Capsule
Film Festival Retail Events
The TIFF Pop-Up Shop Features Exclusive 2024 Merch and Apparel
Fan Fantasy Experiences
Cheez-It is Making Wild Dreams Come True at the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Sensory Explorative Art Exhibitions
Chromasonic Presents the Making Sense of Color Exhibition
Munchies-Curing Sandwiches
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches Teamed Up with Weedmaps on the THC Sandwich
Commercial AI Mixologists
Tastebuds Crafts AI-Generated Recipes for the Beverage Industry
Interactive Music Photo Frames
The WICKED x Samsung Music Frame Features Three Photographs
Nature-Inspired Tech Booths
SUMSEI is Said to Unveil a Distinctive Booth at CES 2024
Bourbon-Specific Snacks
The Sweetery's Bourbon Buddies Enhance the Drinking Experience
Immersive Art-Technology Installations
WNDR Museum Boston Will Feature 20 Exhibitions
High-ABV Tailgate Drinks
Big Sipz's Tailgate Tour Shares a Taste of New Ready-to-Drink Flavors
Cinema-Inspired Chocolates
A24 Movie Chocolate Shares the Flavors of Beloved Theater Refreshments
Artistic Seasonal Dark Beers
Collective Arts Debuts Stranger Than Coffee & Maple Syrup Porter
Immersive Fashion Week Events
Fashion Art Toronto's 1664 Fashion Week Fall 2024 is Comprehensive
Immersive Icewine Festivals
The Niagara Icewine Festival Offers a Dynamic Mix of Winter Activities
Customizable Dirty Soda Shops
Swig Customizes Sodas with Cream, Flavored Syrups & More
Vegas Restaurant Initiatives
Pepsi Dig In Debuts New Exclusive Dishes from Black-Owned Restaurants
Surreal Artist-Inspired Tech Accessories
CASETiFY Presents a New Salvador Dalí Collection
Customized Dirty Drinks
Cool Sips Makes Specialized Beverages of Any Kind at NYC Event
Whisky-Branded Summer Parties
Monkey Shoulder & DJ Skratch Bastid Bring Bacck Bastid’s Bbq Party
Holiday-Inspired Sandwich Lineups
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches Has a New Bad Santa Offering
Seasonal Timeless Snack Lines
Hostess Boasts a Selection of Seasonal Snacks This Fall
Creatively Sponsored Art Events
Sharpie is Sponsoring the Upcoming Art Battle Event in Los Angeles
Cinco de Mayo Nacho Platters
Old Chicago Pizza's Cinco Beer Tour Features New Nachos Grande
Interactive Frozen Dessert Trucks
Kona Ice to Offer a Tropical-Themed Shaved Ice Truck in L.A.
Drive-In Chains Drink Expansions
Sonic's New Line Flavorista Favorties Boasts Six Flavors
Sponsored Tailgating Events
The Popeyes x DoorDash Wing Truck Makes Game Day More Memorable
Layered Ice Cream Sodas
Jack In The Box is Testing Out a New Twisted Soda Beverage in Utah
Heat-and-Eat Gluten-Free Toasts
New York Bakery Gluten Free Texas Toast Comes in Two Flavors
Crafted Holiday Activations
Loews Hotels & Co will Offer Festive Pop-Ups and Seasonal Sips
Art-Inspired Whisky Events
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Partnered with Ian Woods for a Custom Design
Outdoor Toronto Film Festivals
The Lavazza IncluCity Film Festival is Back from June to July
Ready-to-Eat Seasonal Sandwiches
These New Urban Eat. Sandwiches Come in Three Festive Flavors
Modern WiFi-Equipped Toasters
Revolution Cooking Previews its Advanced Revolution Toaster
Innovative Digital Signage
Creative Realities Enhances Fan Engagement & Outcomes with New Signage
Toronto Culture Festivals
Big on Bloor Festival is Back for Its 17th Year
Youth-Focused Pretzel Store Concepts
Wetzel's Pretzels Launches a New Store Concept Called Twisted
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Imaginative Cocktail Menus
Dean & Nancy on 22's World of Dreams Menu Evokes Wonder & Exploration
Limited-Edition Swicy QSR Menus
The Shake Shack Sweet and Savory Menu is Korean Cuisine-Inspired
Delectable Rotating Dessert Menus
Crumbl Unveils a New Dessert Menu to Complement its Cookies
Travel-Inspired Pretzel Packaging
Sabio's Snacking Passport Offers an Interactive Element
Action Movie Cookie Campaigns
These Insomnia Cookies Borderlands Tie-Ins Celebrate the Movie
Indulgent Frozen Cocktails
1911's Exclusive State Fair Drink Features Cotton Candy Vodka
Content Creator News Sources
Creative Brew Offers Daily Insight and News for Content Creators
Cannabis Festival Collaborations
STIIZY Teams Up with Outside Lands on a New Festival Activation
Indulgently-Inspired Dessert Flavors
These I.T.S. Dessert Flavors are Sweet and Familiar
Revived Decade-Themed QSR Menus
This New Taco Bell Menu Has Five Nostalgic Offerings
Whimsical Chocolate-Inspired Experiences
Hershey's Chocolate World is Rolling Out Summer Offerings
Seasonal Street Food-Inspired Menus
Taco Cabana Street Food Fest Features Ample Food and Drink
Performance Art-Inspired Doughnuts
Pinkbox Doughnuts Has Playful New New Blue Man Group Doughnuts
Fresh-Baked Cookie Deliveries
Tiff's Treats Simplifies Gifting Others and Treating Yourself
Concert-Themed Cocktail Flights
Ruby Slipper's Eras Flight Makes Favorite Pop Songs Sippable
Rock'n'Roll-Inspired Whiskey Collections
FEW Spirits Debuts the Icons of Rock Collection
Avocado Sommeliers
Shake Shack Enlisted Experts to Help Guests Pick the Perfect Avocado Every Time
Surfing-Centric Podcast Series
This Podcast Was Created By 805 Beer and the World Surf League
Game Day-Inspired Shots
Game On Shots Bottle the Fun of Stadium Snacks & Tailgating
Burger-Inspired Breakfast Menus
These Shake Shack Breakfast Sandwiches are Arriving in the UK
Artisan Summertime Cafe Drinks
White Bison Coffee Announced New Drinks Just in Time for Summer
Spooky Summer Doughnut Lines
Voodoo Doughnut is Releasing a New Line of Doughnuts for 'Summerween'
Luxurious Wine Pop-Ups
Kim Crawford will Host a Golden Wine Lounge at The Well Toronto
Pop-Up Taco Restaurants
El Segundo Continually Surprises & Delights with Daily Main Dish Specials
Comprehensive Festival Apps
Festivawl Consolidates Info for the Festivals You Attend in One Place
S'mores-Flavored Waffle Cones
Ben & Jerry's Have Just Unveiled a New S'more Cone Option
Fall-Focused Grill Restaurant Menus
These New Freddy’s Menu Items Welcome the Seasonal Shift
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Traveling Food Festivals
Northern Heat Rib Series Will Be Traveling to 10 Cities in Ontario
Tropical Modernism Stage Designs
A Team of Designers Form a South Asian Stage at Glastonbury
Empowering Musician Spotlight Programs
Gibson Introduces Its First-ever Artist Spotlight Program
Eclectic Wine Festivals
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival is a Major Draw for Wine Enthusiasts
Gourmet Pancake Stack Menus
Sunny Street Café Has Unveiled Its New Fancy Pancake Menu