Hugh Forrest, a longtime leader and recent president of South by Southwest, is no longer with the organization, marking a major change for one of Austin’s most economically significant and internationally known events. Forrest confirmed his departure late last week, saying it was not his decision. Forrest’s exit is reportedly part of a broader round of staff reductions at SXSW. Forrest joined SXSW near its 1987 founding and worked his way up to become a leading figure, helping shape the event into a sprawling nine-day celebration of music, film, technology and culture. Under his leadership, SXSW evolved from a small music gathering to an internationally recognized event that generated an estimated $377.3 million in economic impact for the Austin area last year, according to a report by Greyhill Advisors. Starting in 2026, SXSW will consolidate its programming into a single week and adapt to a planned four-year renovation of the Austin Convention Center.
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written... More by Chad Swiatecki