Interactive Lounges

Take a break from the programming sessions at any of the strategically located Interactive lounges. With differently-themed lounges located throughout our campuses, there's always a cool place nearby to grab a cold drink, see old friends and talk shop.

Alcatel-Lucent’s Trend Lounge – Hilton Room 406

Alcatel-Lucent is rolling out the red carpet again and playing host at the sassy “ultra-lounge.” Devs, techies, entrepreneurs and VCs are invited to relax, recharge, drink & grub with ALU’s NG Connect team and partners. Fight the flashes on the step and repeat, cameo appearances from tech & celeb stars, and the juiciest SXSW gossip live.

The Americans Elect Lounge - ACC Room 7

Crash the Party! Americans can directly nominate a presidential ticket through our online convention in June. The nominee will be on the ballot in all 50 states. Visit the Americans Elect lounge. Eat food. Drink drinks. Listen to awesome music. Claim your place in the political process.

The Beacon Lounge - ACC Room 8BC

The Beacon: Lounge With a Conscience returns as THE spot for cause-focused people to hang out with the best and brightest non-profit Geekerati. The WiFi will be speedy, the noms and drinks plentiful, the couches comfy and the do-gooding vibe pure awesome. Follow @thebeaconsxsw for updates.

The Circus Mashimus - ACC Room 3

Once again, the fun-filled big top circus that is the Mashery Lounge will be back at SXSW 2012 in March. With great furnishings and flowing refreshments, the Circus Mashimus is a great place to talk API shop with Mashery folks or simply relax while catching up on email. Check the Circus Mashimus site for updates on their developer meet up and lounge activities as the event draws near.

GE Garage – Guadalupe and W 4th St

Want to make 2012 the year that you learn how to 3-D print or wield a blow torch? Then roll-up your sleeves and come by the GE Garage to meet our experts, who will teach you how to make manufacturing magic. All fellow SXSW makers, tinkerers, and inventors invited – no experience required!

Gemalto Mobile IDEA/NEXT Lounge - Hilton Room 602

The Gemalto Mobile IDEA/NEXT Lounge is the hub to learn, engage and share in discussions around all aspects of mobility – from the mobile phone to the cloud – and the digital security solutions they necessitate at SXSW. You will find analysts, vendors, entrepreneurs and government officials discussing what’s next in mobile payment, mobile identity, mobile/cloud security solutions and emerging mobile technologies. At the Gemalto Mobile IDEA/NEXT lounge, you (and your devices) can recharge in a fun, fully-connected, forward-thinking atmosphere.

IBM Future of Social Lounge – ACC Room 1

How socially forward is your business? Want to find out? Stop by the IBM Future of Social Lounge during SXSW Interactive for a social assessment, see where Social Business is headed, listen in on live conversations with industry innovators, recharge and refresh between sessions. Learn how IBM and their business partners are helping startups, developers and business leaders transform the future of business and get an invitation to our party.

The iTriage "Power-Up" Lounge - AT&T Conference Center, Room 301
(Saturday-Tuesday only)

Need to recharge? iPhone or Tablet going dead? Feet hurting? Come relax in the iTriage Power-Up Lounge. Plug in your electronics at the charge stations and grab a healthy snack to refuel! And while you're recharging on the comfy couches, learn about the #1 downloaded healthcare app that allows you to take charge of your health!

The Lift presents: Latin America Innovation - Brush Square Park, West Tent (Friday-Sunday only)

The Lift invites you to discover Latin America as a source of technological development and possible investments for the years to come. With a selection of some of the best projects generated in Latin America, this lounge hosts Latin American start-ups, socially-innovative projects, a showcase of amazing artists working with technology and other creative outputs from Latin America’s prime creative industries. You know the flavour, come and get to know innovation from Chile and Argentina to Mexico.

The Mofilm Registrants Lounge - Brush Square Park
(Friday-Tuesday 2:00pm-7:00pm)

The Mofilm Registrants Lounge, located on the corner of 4th and Neches right in front of the Austin Convention Center, is the meeting place for SXSW registrants to network over a cold beverage. Be sure to stop by daily!

Samsung Blogger Lounge, Hosted by Techset - ACC Room 19AB

5th Year Anniversary Celebration! For the last four years, the Blogger Lounge at SXSW has served as a central hub for celebrating friendship, innovation and collaboration. We are proud to announce that TechSet is once again partnering with Samsung to host the SXSW Blogger Lounge in 2012. Stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!

Turner Revive Lounge - Moonshine Grill, 303 Red River (Saturday - Monday only)

Wanna meet the tech team behind NBA Digital, Falling Skies, and Anderson Cooper? We’re Turner Broadcasting and we're changing the way you watch TV. Get to know us, pitch our start-up investors, and learn about Turner Media Camp, a brand-new accelerator helping top media startups with capital, mentorship and access. Have brunch at our Revive Lounge, recharge yourself and devices or join our happy hours celebrating women in technology. Follow @TurnerRevive for future updates.

Interactive Official Events & Parties

Friday, March 9

The Mix at Six Presented by Can We Network
6:00-8:00pm
Roial, 120 W 5th St
The Mix at Six is the first happy hour of the Interactive Festival and is the definitive place to re-connect, break the ice and just have a great time. Food, drinks and networking galore.

Saturday, March 10

The Interactive Opening Party Presented by frog design and Microsoft
8:00-11:00pm
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd
The legendary interactive social experiment continues. This year frog will join with the Microsoft Coding4Fun group to create yet another playful look at technology. Take the short walk or the shorter shuttles leaving from the Convention Center to the Palmer Events Center to see what these creative minds make!

Sunday, March 11

The Interactive + Film Fusion Party Presented by Meebo
7:00-10:00pm
The Stage, 508 E 6th St
SXSW is all about convergence and there's no better event to celebrate this than at the official Interactive + Film Fusion Party hosted once again by Meebo. In true Austin style, this party will have you on your feet enjoying the complimentary libations and live music from local rockers the John Evans Band. Follow us @Meebo for more updates.

Power Up! Party, Presented by GREE, Bands presented by Alternative Press


6:00PM - 10:00PM
Palmer Events Center - West Canopy
Come join us at the massive multiplayer Power Up Party, presented by GREE, with bands presented by Alternative Press. We will be wrapping up an eventful three days of the SXSW ScreenBurn Arcade, so come celebrate with a bonus round of drinks and live music. The party will feature Minneapolis-based indie pop-rockers Motion City Soundtrack headlining and rising Chicago chiptune act I Fight Dragons as the opener. The party is a registrant/badge-only event and 21+, however GREE and Alternative Press will be making a limited amount of FREE wristbands available to the general public on March 10 and 11 at the ScreenBurn Arcade.

Tuesday, March 13

The Interactive Awards Pre-Party and Ceremony Presented by HP
6:00-9:00pm
Hilton Hotel, 6th Floor
Come mix, mingle and enjoy complimentary appetizers and beverages before the main event gets underway. The 15th annual Interactive Awards never fails to entertain and delight. Featuring soon-to-be-announced entertainment breaks, a celebrity emcee and the presentation of first ever SXSW Interactive Hall of Fame award to Jeffrey Zeldman.

The Interactive Closing Party Presented by (mt) Media Temple
8:30-2:00am
Stubb's, 801 Red River St
(mt) Media Temple is back hosting the official SXSWi Closing party! Come by Stubb's for drinks & awesome performances by Kasabian, Miike Snow & other special guests. Check mediatemple.net/sxswfor more info.

Official events and parties make up a large part of the festival programming each year and are a popular way for registrants to connect and cut-loose. From intimate happy hour receptions to demo events to karaoke blow-outs, there is something for everyone.

To host an official event during SXSW Interactive, please contact Katie King at katie@sxsw.com or (512) 467-7979.

Interactive Opening Party. Photos courtesy of JW Walthall

Top large photo of Mashery Lounge courtesy of JW Walthall