SXSW 2026 Elevates Festival Screenings With New Barco Laser Projection Partnership

The South by Southwest is elevating its cinematic presentation in 2026 through a new partnership with Barco, a global leader in laser-powered cinema technology. The collaboration will introduce Laser by Barco projection to select festival screenings, enhancing the visual experience for audiences and filmmakers alike during the event in Austin.

The move reflects a broader industry push toward premium theatrical presentation technologies, similar to innovations highlighted at major exhibition events such as CinemaCon.

For the first time, festival screenings at the historic Paramount Theatre, the venue hosting the festival's opening-night premiere and other headline programs, will be presented using Barco's award-winning laser projection technology. The system will also power screenings at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - South Lamar. The technology promises enhanced brightness, improved contrast, and sharper image clarity, allowing filmmakers to present their work with vivid colors and consistent visual quality.

One of the most anticipated films to be shown using the new format is "I Love Boosters". Directed by Boots Riley and starring Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfield, Naomi Ackie, and Demi Moore, the film will debut at the Paramount Theatre on March 12. Other titles scheduled to screen in Laser by Barco include "Margo's Got Money Troubles", "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come", and "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice".

“SXSW has always been a launchpad for bold voices and new ideas in filmmaking. We're excited to partner with the festival to bring Laser by Barco to these iconic Austin venues.”

Gerwin Damberg, Executive Vice President of Barco Cinema, said, "SXSW has always been a launchpad for bold voices and new ideas in filmmaking. We're excited to partner with the festival to bring Laser by Barco to these iconic Austin venues, giving filmmakers a powerful canvas to present their work with exceptional brightness, color, and clarity, and giving audiences the chance to experience these stories exactly as they were meant to be seen."

SXSW's Senior Manager of Film & TV Programming, Gabe Van Amburgh, added, "Our mission has always been to provide a world-class stage for the most ambitious stories in cinema. Partnering with Barco helps us deliver on that promise. Bringing their laser projection to the Paramount and Alamo Drafthouse ensures our filmmakers' work can be experienced with the level of quality it deserves."

The 2026 event also marks the 40th anniversary of SXSW, making the partnership especially fitting. By combining advanced laser projection with Austin's iconic screening venues, the festival aims to set a new standard for film festival presentations while reinforcing its commitment to the future of cinematic storytelling.