SXSW London announced the latest wave of speakers for its 2026 festival lineup, taking place June 1-6.
Kicking off the first week of June, the second SXSW London will take place at Shoreditch in East London, promising unique, informative experiences across business, tech, music, film, and TV.
It was announced Wednesday that former First Lady Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, are set for a live recording of their podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Other speakers will include London Mayor Sadiq Khan, actress Claire Foy, journalist and host Piers Morgan, CEO & Team Principal, Oracle Red Bull Racing Laurent Mekies, svp of corporate marketing for Oracle Dave Rosenberg, Olympian Max Whitlock OBE and strategic communications advisor & cultural strategist Zara Rahim.
Other speakers added to the lineup include: Misan Harriman, photographer, social activist and Oscar-nominated filmmaker; Miquita Oliver, broadcaster and podcast host, Miss Me?; Amelia Brown, CEO, Fremantle; Ryan Condal, House of the Dragon showrunner and co-creator; actors Steve Toussaint, Harry Collett, Abubakar Salim, Jefferson Hall, Abigail Thorn and production designer Jim Clay.
Katarina Sherling, Head of Conference at SXSW London, said in a statement: “With less than a week to go until this year’s festival opens, we are very excited to welcome this latest group of speakers. It truly reflects the range of conversations we’re bringing to SXSW London in 2026. It’s about platforming different perspectives, converging in one unique space. These additions reflect that promise, and is what makes SXSW London such a powerful agent for change.”
The 2026 Festival Conference previously announced speakers include Neon founder Tom Quinn, Hinge CEO Jackie Jantos, chief operating officer at Bluesky, Rose Wang, actress Sophia Bush, YouTube star Markiplier, British soccer player-turned-broadcaster Jill Scott, WPP CEO Cindy Rose, former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, Made in Chelsea and sweet business owner Jamie Laing, The Streets musician Mike Skinner, British Film Institute film fund director Mia Bays, and CEO of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Vinai Venkatesham.
Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream will also make an appearance to discuss freeing his socially-oriented brand from Unilever and how social mission remains at the heart of commercial success.
Multi-BAFTA award-winning actress, writer, producer and director Sharon Horgan and award-winning screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies were also previously announced.
Two buzzy premieres are set for its Screen Festival slate: Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Olivia Wilde’s The Invite. Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day, starring Haley Bennett, Jack Whitehall and Lily Allen, will open the film lineup. Jane Schoenbrun‘s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma will close the event.
SXSW London also recently announced major partnerships with organizations such as Waymo and AGBO, as well as the key themes shaping the fest’s conference branch: “AI as the New Power Structure,” “Living Longer, Living Better,” “Culture Can Save Humanity,” “Society Rewired,” “Creativity in the Algorithmic Age,” and “Futurism in Practice.”
Lily Ford contributed to this report.
