The SXSW 2026 PanelPicker is open for community voting!
We have three panels we’re hoping to be a part of next March, so we’d love it if you would vote for us!
“Marsha’s Legacy: A Conversation” is a fireside chat with visionary artists and activists Richie Shazam and Tourmaline. They will discuss the state of queer and trans identity, legacy, resistance, and progress in America today. With Tourmaline’s 2025 best selling biography of Marsha P. Johnson as a jumping off point, his conversation will focus on the intersections of art and activism, what today’s queer icons can carry through from past trailblazers, priorities for building an inclusive future, and much more.
“Brand Stories Giving HOLY SH*T You Have To See This Vibes” will show the process and extremely diverse approaches to several groundbreaking m ss ng p eces projects for KFC, Climate Power, WhatsApp, Microsoft, Chili’s, and more. Brands are increasingly tapping immersive artists to create cultural moments that invite audiences to become active participants. With an unwavering commitment to craft and attention to detail, top immersive directors Mike Woods, Aramique, and Annie Saunders will discuss how they lead audiences through pop-ups, experiential theatre, and tech-driven art installations to create spaces that develop fandom, sharability, and conversation.
“Pop-Ups FTW: Chili’s Immersive Strategy” will share the strategy, insights, and execution behind the Chili’s Fast Food Financing experience. Chili’s has driven market and category leading gains in awareness and sales through hilarious, bold creative that breaks all norms. Agency JM&D and the immersive team at m ss ng p eces crafted a satirical attack on the outrageous cost of fast food, with activation located next to a prominent NYC McDonald’s. The activation was an instantly-viral exclamation point on the brand’s ‘value wars’ with fast food, proving how important and valuable truly bold creative thinking and execution can be.
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