SXSW has always been a melting pot of technology, music, film, and culture, but this year’s festival offers an unprecedented concentration of food-related programming. As sustainability, innovation, and global culinary traditions take center stage, these five experiences are essential destinations for food enthusiasts and industry professionals.
Whether you’re interested in future food systems, viral taste sensations, or thoughtful panel discussions, these activations offer something for every palate.
Dubai’s Museum of the Future
For the first time, Dubai is bridging ideas from both East and West at SXSW this March, transforming a corner of 3rd and Congress in downtown Austin into a portal to the year 2071. The Museum of the Future (MOTF) will host a daily five-day immersive experience from March 7 to 11 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring 20 curated experiences that collectively imagine and design the future.
As the exclusive sponsor of SXSW’s forward-thinking 2050 conference track, the Dubai Future Foundation will lead conversations on lunar colonization, artificial intelligence, and sustainable food production during this year’s festival. Food enthusiasts will discover innovative desert food systems through workshops, exploring “space-proofing cuisine” and next-generation agricultural solutions.
The food panel track brings together visionary leaders to reimagine food systems with culturally connected solutions. Pioneering sustainability brand Solar Foods, which harnesses solar energy to produce food in revolutionary ways, will engage with special guests, including Hazzaa Al Mansoori, the first Emirati astronaut.
The pop-up’s outdoor space celebrates Emirati culture with tastings of viral TikTok sensation Dubai chocolate bars from FIX Dessert Chocolatier and traditional chai demonstrations by Project Chaiwala. Inside, guests can explore Refik Anadol’s breathtaking “Earth Dreams” installation, where AI transforms environmental data into mesmerizing visuals of air, land, and water.
“We are bringing Dubai’s perspective and flavors to Austin, where we hope to spark new conversations about how technology and culture can create positive change,” says Majed Al Mansoori, executive director of Museum of the Future. With capacity limited to 250 people at a time (SXSW badge holders get priority entry), it’s worth planning ahead if you plan on attending this activation.
Food Tank’s “All Things Food” Summit
For those SXSW attendees who want to learn even more about the intersection of food systems, sustainability, and innovation, the “All Things Food at SXSW 2025” summit is a must-attend event. This two-day immersive experience, hosted by Food Tank, Huston-Tillotson University, and Driscoll’s, takes place March 13-14 at the picturesque Barr Mansion. Free entry is available with an RSVP on Eventbrite.
What sets this event apart is its extraordinary concentration of food system luminaries—over 100 speakers, including Impossible Foods founder Pat Brown, Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, renowned physician Dr. Mark Hyman, Whole Foods executives, urban farmers, NASA scientists, Indigenous food advocates, James Beard award-winning chefs, and policy experts.
Unlike many SXSW events with limited capacity, “All Things Food” is open to all, making it accessible to badge holders and the general public. The event features a complimentary all-day menu, drinks, live performances, and special interactive experiences on the farmhouse lawn—a welcome respite from the downtown festival hustle.
Particularly enticing is the VIP access option available to Food Tank members, which includes exclusive culinary creations led by celebrity chefs like Dave White (2025 Chopped Grand Champion) and Iliana De La Vega (James Beard “Best Chef – Texas”).
Whataburger Museum of Art
No SXSW itinerary would be complete without a visit to the Whataburger Museum of Art (WMOA), making its highly anticipated in-person debut after years as a digital-only phenomenon. In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the beloved Texas-born chain is bringing fan-created art to life on March 8-9 at Wanderlust Wine Co. in downtown Austin.
What began as an Instagram community during the pandemic has evolved into a vibrant collection of more than 200 original works spanning digital, mural, abstract, and pop culture art — each inspired by Whataburger’s iconic orange-and-white striped aesthetic. The activation transforms brand devotion into an immersive gallery experience that’s as creative as it is mouthwatering.
Visitors can participate in creating collaborative art in the Whataburger Day Dot Room, where a stark white restaurant interior gradually becomes covered in colorful Whataburger “Day Dot” stickers. Collectors won’t want to miss the Table Tent Mugshot Wall, and the chance to take home a specialty Whataburger 75th Anniversary + SXSW 2025 Table Tent—available exclusively at this event.
For those whose appreciation of art is matched only by their appetite, the Whataburger Food Truck will be on-site Saturday, serving samples of their limited time offer, the Monterey Melt. The exhibit is open to all (including non-badge holders) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days.
UT’s Hook ‘Em House at Antone’s
Just a few blocks away at Antone’s (305 E 5th Street), the University of Texas at Austin’s Hook ‘Em House returns for a two-day event on March 7-8. Attendees can immerse themselves in photo-worthy installations, thought-provoking conversations with world-class academics and entrepreneurs, and an impressive music lineup featuring Austin favorites Mobley and Shakey Graves.
Food lovers take note: this is one SXSW experience where you won’t go hungry! Raising Cane’s will serve their legendary chicken fingers completely free daily from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., offering the perfect mid-day fuel while you network with Texas’ most innovative minds in tech and creative industries.
The culinary delights don’t stop there. UT’s impressive alumni food scene takes center stage with the celebrated twin sisters Valentina & Andrea Paredes serving authentic creations from Tamale Addiction. At the same time, the iconic Tiff’s Treats provides their famously warm, fresh-baked cookies. Early risers will especially appreciate the special breakfast spread during the International Women’s Day celebration, featuring locally-sourced morning favorites.
SXSW badge holders receive priority entry, but general admission is available with an RSVP on Eventbrite.
Must-Attend Food Panels
Beyond the immersive experiences, SXSW 2025 features several high-profile panels for conference attendeesas part of their Food Track, addressing the future of food systems, sustainability, and innovation:
The Future of Plant-Based: Inclusive, Delicious, Sustainable (March 8, 10 a.m.) Impossible Foods President and CEO Peter McGuinness discusses food as a climate solution, noting that a 1% shift to Impossible Beef could save 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The panel explores how plant-based innovations can bridge the gap between vegans and meat lovers while addressing environmental challenges.
Farm to Future: The Role of Climate-Smart Agriculture (March 8, 2:30 p.m.) Caitlin Leibert of Whole Foods Market, Paul Lightfoot of Patagonia Provisions, and Ben Mand of Guayaki Yerba Mate discuss how food and beverage companies are confronting global environmental challenges, exploring the integration and scaling of regenerative agricultural practices.
Seeding Change: The Future of Organic Food and Agriculture (March 9, 11:30 a.m.) CEOs and Executive Directors from CCOF, Farmshare Austin, Daily Harvest, and Whole Foods define organic standards, explore how organic agriculture improves farmers’ lives, and how brands invest in organic supply chains.
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