Announcing the next wave of Keynotes and Featured Speakers for the 34th edition of the SXSW Conference which celebrates the convergence of technology, film, and music industries.

The Keynotes announced today include award-winning immersive artist Gabo Arora; Grammy-winning musician, DJ, producer, and cultural figure Diplo; and Emerson Collective founder and president Laurene Powell Jobs.

“From amplifying social change to remake our lives and communities better to imagining new ways to leverage technology in storytelling, we’re truly excited about the programming that we’ve announced today,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “The creative and bold innovative talent speaking at SXSW this year continues to provide a compelling destination for people across industries to gather and engage with strong vision for our future.”

Newly-added Featured Speakers include Samantha Bee, Brené Brown, Bob Chapek, Stephen Colbert, Jack Dorsey, Nicholas Thompson, Jonathan Van Ness, Jen Wong, and more.

As you get to know the latest round of speaker additions below, add events to your SXSW Schedule and explore 22 programming tracks associated with each Conference session.

Looking for career development opportunities? Your next creative collaborator? Inspiration for a new decade with a side of queso? Save big when you register by Friday, January 17 to help us write the next chapter of SXSW from March 13-22, 2020 in Austin, TX. It checks all the boxes.

Keynotes

Award-winning immersive artist, professor, and former UN diplomat Gabo Arora (Convergence)

Grammy-winning musician, DJ, producer, and cultural figure Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known as Diplo (Music)

Emerson Collective founder and president Laurene Powell Jobs (Convergence)

These visionaries join previously announced Keynotes Erin Lee Carr (Film), Reggie Fils-Aimé (Convergence), Kim Gordon (Music), Roger Waters (Music), and Whitney Wolfe Herd and Jon Korngold with Gayle King (Interactive).

2020 Keynotes

Featured Speakers

Featured Sessions

Less Trust, More Truth: The Web 3.0 Thesis (Tech Industry & Enterprise) – A presentation on trust, truth, and the new internet with Ethereum co-founder and CTO Dr. Gavin Wood with a Q&A by Austin Blockchain Collective Executive Director Pete Harris .

Sparking Female Stories: Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere (Making Film & Episodics) – Join the powerhouse production team behind Hulu’s upcoming adaptation of Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller, Little Fires Everywhere, for a conversation around the changing dynamics of the entertainment industry today. Showrunner and executive producer Liz Tigelaar , directors Lynn Shelton, Nzingha Stewart, Michael Weaver , and executive producers Lauren Neustadter of Hello Sunshine and Pilar Savone of Simpson Street will discuss the importance of using storytelling as a means of charting a new path forward for women and how they are working with stars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, who are leading the charge in female-driven productions, to transform gender and ethnic representation in film and television.

Supernatural: 15 Years of Fandom (Making Film & Episodics) – From the series launch in 2005 on the former WB Network to the current 15th and final broadcast season on The CW, Supernatural is a case study in how a little “series-that-could” beat the odds to become the longest-running American sci-fi series in television history. Produced by Warner Bros. Television, series stars Jared Padalecki , Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins will join a panel of Supernatural experts, including Samantha Highfill from Entertainment Weekly and Alice Jester from The Winchester Family Business, to discuss how a series with more than 300 episodes continues to trend on social media, sell out magazine covers and merchandise, pack fan conventions around the world, and be a force for social good — all while trying to make a positive and lasting impact.

Technology + Storytelling = Magic (Experiential Storytelling) – Today’s technological revolution is changing the game when it comes to experiential storytelling, and Disney is staying ahead of the curve by leveraging emerging tech to revolutionize the Guest Experience. In this conversation, Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, will be joined by Disney Imagineers to give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at some of the incredible innovations Disney uses to bring stories to life at destinations around the world.

2020 Featured Speakers & Sessions

Join Us for SXSW 2020

Register for SXSW 2020 and experience 10 days of conference sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, networking events, mentor sessions, and much more. All attendees will receive primary entry to programming associated with their badge type, in addition to enjoying secondary access to most other SXSW events.

Bring your squad to SX – groups of 10 or more can save big with Group Registration rates. Plus, currently enrolled students may apply to purchase a SXSW Badge at a special discounted price.

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Stay tuned for more programming announcements throughout the 2020 SXSW season including major announcements from the Music Festival and Film Festival this week. Sign up for SXSW Event Updates and read SXSW News for programming features, registration information, and more.

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