AUSTIN (KXAN) -- South by Southwest turns 40 this year, and there will be a lot of changes compared to previous years... and a midlife crisis isn't to blame for this 40-year-old's transformation.

The Austin Convention Center closed down shortly after SXSW's 39th rendition earlier this year for much-needed renovations. It's expected to stay closed until 2029. Because of that, SXSW will come in a different format for the next few years.

The biggest change SXSW 2026 will see is a cut-down schedule and the elimination of a secondary weekend. The day after the 2025 festival/conferences wrapped up, SXSW leadership announced preliminary plans for next year's event.

“With the Austin Convention Center undergoing a complete redesign until 2029, we’re taking this opportunity to reinvent spaces for

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