For the fifth year in a row, Paste is partnering with Ilegal Mezcal to bring a free four-day extravaganza to Austin, Texas. The 2026 edition will take place at High Noon in East Austin, from 12-7 p.m. during the SXSW Music Festival. RSVP here.
Across two stages, we’ll be showcasing familiar and fresh faces from all over the world, including Mexico (Diles Que No Me Maten), Belgium (The Haunted Youth), Australia (Swapmeet, Radium Dolls), Ireland (BRICKNASTY), Norway (Sassy 009), the U.K. (TTSSFU), Canada (cootie catcher), and planet Earth (Girl Tones). We booked these artists because we think they’re awesome and, selfishly, we’d like to hear them all play up close.
Our full schedule will be unveiled soon, but confirmed acts so far include bloodsports, BRICKNASTY, Buddy Red, Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes, cootie catcher, Diles Que No Me Maten, Dylan Earl, Emily Nenni, Forty Feet Tall, Francesca Blanchard, Girl Tones, Good Flying Birds, Horsepower, Jonny Fritz, Joshua Ray Walker, Liz Cooper, Meg Elsier, MX LONELY, Natalie Jane Hill, PONS, Radium Dolls, runo plum, Sassy 009, Shallowater, Spencer Thomas, Still Blank, Swapmeet, The Haunted Youth, The Pink Stones, TTSSFU, and Victoryland—plus more than a dozen celebrity interviews presented by our sister site The A.V. Club.
We’re excited to partner again with our friends at Ilegal Mezcal for their renowned Bar Ilegal experience! Enjoy free brand activations for those 21+, including onsite chainstitching by Jada & Jon and flash tattoos Lindley Weaver. Join Ilegal Mezcal’s Global Brand Ambassador Gilbert Marquez for aged mezcal and signature cocktails. We’ll also be giving away a special vinyl album featuring some of our favorite SXSW performances from previous years, courtesy of our partners at Conectiv. Dos Equis will be on tap, and CARE will be premiering their short film GIRL. Attendees with festival badges will gain priority entrance, but the event is free to anyone.
