Barack Obama, Johnny Cash, Matthew McConaughey, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerburg have all taken a turn at addressing its crowds, but now the Texan culture and tech festival that likes to predict the future is to become a bona fide East Ender.

The European edition of South by Southwest has opened to ­applications from contributors and audiences around the world before its ­inaugural London event next summer.

It may not be near the desert, and there won’t be so many baseball caps on show, but the huge annual festival in Austin that has become famous for music, film and cutting-edge invention and design is now preparing to take over the streets of Shoreditch.

Speaking to the Observer before the full lineup is put together next spring, Katy Arnander, the director of programming, has revealed the ­conference that will be at the centre of the week-long festival in June will ­feature 420 sessions, while the wider events will spread across 29 venues, ­including galleries and nightclubs.

“It is already clear from early interest in attending that the streets of east London will be as buzzing as we’d hoped,” she said. The event, styled as a kind of “Olympics of the mind”, with fashion and music thrown into the mix, has come to London rather than elsewhere in Europe “because of its multicultural aspects”, Arnander says.

“It also will be a big draw for ­entrepreneurs and performers from further afield than Europe, because it is so much nearer for people to the Middle East and north Africa.”

Lovers of film, music and hi-tech, as well as creators and inventors, now have four days to vote on the contents of the conference programme. “The idea is to be democratic and let the audiences have some say, although obviously there will also be lots of curated content and performances.”

So far, the British organisers have received more than twice the ­predicted number of submissions, with 2,700 entries and counting. Each hopeful submission will be assessed by three curators to ensure everything is given a fair chance to impress.

The festival began in Austin in 1987 and has grown into an attraction that brings hundreds of ­thousands of visitors to the Texan city. It prides itself on reflecting current trends and providing a snapshot of what innovators are thinking, although it hit ­financial difficulties during the ­pandemic after the 2020 festival was cancelled at short notice.

After a two-year gap, Penske Media’s P-MRC Holdings invested in the brand. P-MRC is a joint US venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, whose ­holdings include the media outlets and trade journals Billboard, Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Variety and Vibe.

In 2022 a hybrid version of the festival returned. But controversy damaged the Austin festival this year, when 80 acts pulled out in protest against the organiser’s partnership with the American military.

This June South by Southwest discontinued its association with the US army and the defence contractor RTX Corporation.

“After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model,” said a statement on the festival’s website.

“As a result, the US army, and ­companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”

AUSTIN, Texas – There are still some races in Central Texas that have not been officially called after Election Day in November and voters will head to the polls one last time this year to settle them.

Races, including ones for Austin City Council District 7 and Manor mayor, ended with no candidate getting a majority of the vote so the top two candidates with the most votes face off in a runoff.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What are people voting for in runoffs?

Voters in District 7 will decide who will represent them on the Austin City Council in a runoff election and choose between Mike Siegel and Gary Bledsoe,

Austin ISD voters will decide who will get an at-large seat on the school board between Lindsey Stringer and Fernando Lucas de Urioste.

In Manor, either Christopher Harvey or Tricia Campbell will become the next mayor.

San Marcos City Council Place 5 is a race between Roland Saucedo and Lorenzo Gonzalez.

In Kyle, Marc McKinney and Melisa Median are the choices for Kyle City Council District 5.

What you need to know to vote

Check to see if you’re registered to vote. The easiest way to check voter registration status is to head to the Secretary of State’s website.

The Am I Registered portal on the website lets you submit your identifying information, like a Texas Driver’s License number or details about your birth.

You will find out instantly if you’re registered to vote. The portal will also give you your poll location and early voting locations.

For polling locations you can visit the following sites:

What do I need to bring with me when I vote?

Voters will be asked to present one of seven acceptable forms of photo identification, unless they are a voter with a permanent exemption on their voter registration certificate. 

Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:

• Texas Driver’s License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States Passport (book or card)

Here is a list of the supporting forms of ID that can be presented if the voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo identification, and cannot reasonably obtain one:

• Copy of or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
• Copy of or original current utility bill
• Copy of or original bank statement
• Copy of or original government check
• Copy of or original paycheck
• Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

Can you vote with an expired ID?

If you have a form of acceptable photo ID and are between the ages of 18 and 69, your ID must be current or expired for no more than 4 years to qualify to vote.

For voters 70 and older, your photo ID can be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise okay.

AUSTIN – Residents in Travis and Hays counties will take to the polls and cast their ballots in the runoff election.

In Travis County, are three races for voters to make their selections: Austin City Council District 7, an Austin ISD school board seat and the race for mayor of Manor.

Voters in San Marcos and Kyle will vote on contested city council races.

FOX 7 will have live election results as they come in.

What are people voting for in runoffs?

Voters in District 7 will decide who will represent them on the Austin City Council in a runoff election and choose between Mike Siegel and Gary Bledsoe,

Austin ISD voters will decide who will get an at-large seat on the school board between Lindsey Stringer and Fernando Lucas de Urioste.

In Manor, either Christopher Harvey or Tricia Campbell will become the next mayor.

San Marcos City Council Place 5 is a race between Roland Saucedo and Lorenzo Gonzalez.

In Kyle, Marc McKinney and Melisa Median are the choices for Kyle City Council District 5.

When Will Polls Be Open?

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 14.

Voting Locations

Travis County

If you have difficulty viewing the map above, click here.

Hays County

Travis County Runoff Election Sample Ballot

Hays County Sample Ballots

City of Kyle

City of San Marcos

What you need to know to vote

Check to see if you’re registered to vote. The easiest way to check voter registration status is to head to the Secretary of State’s website.

The Am I Registered portal on the website lets you submit your identifying information, like a Texas Driver’s License number or details about your birth.

You will find out instantly if you’re registered to vote. The portal will also give you your poll location and early voting locations.

For polling locations you can visit the following sites:

What do I need to bring with me when I vote?

Voters will be asked to present one of seven acceptable forms of photo identification, unless they are a voter with a permanent exemption on their voter registration certificate. 

Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:

• Texas Driver’s License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States Passport (book or card)

Here is a list of the supporting forms of ID that can be presented if the voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo identification, and cannot reasonably obtain one:

• Copy of or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
• Copy of or original current utility bill
• Copy of or original bank statement
• Copy of or original government check
• Copy of or original paycheck
• Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

Can you vote with an expired ID?

If you have a form of acceptable photo ID and are between the ages of 18 and 69, your ID must be current or expired for no more than 4 years to qualify to vote.

For voters 70 and older, your photo ID can be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise okay.