SXSW 2026 may have felt a bit different this year, but the spotlight on celebrities hasn’t dimmed at all. Though the festival was slightly shortened, the amount of film premieres was still heady and there was no shortage of drama – including a proposal that did not make our list. Here are the moments that did.
Justin Theroux
No stranger to Austin, Justin Theroux spent time in the area while filing the series The Leftovers. Shot mainly in Lockhart and ATX Film Studios, seasons two and three of the HBO series took place in Central Texas. While shooting the series, Theroux discovered Austin Pets Alive and he has supported the organization multiple times over the years. He even made a very public declaration of his love on Ellen.
He adopted his dog Kuma in 2018 after she was found in the debris following Hurricane Harvey. Of course, when we got to chat with him on the red carpet for Seekers of Infinite Love, we didn’t miss the opportunity to ask about his furry companion as well as his love for APA!
Lisa Kudrow
At SXSW for a screening of The Comeback Season 3, Lisa Kudrow made time to speak to everyone on the red carpet. When we asked her what she would like to see make a comeback from the 90s, the actress replied, “Jokes.” In the clip below, she goes on to explain, “You were allowed to say things and it was just a joke so it was OK.”
John Goodman
Though we didn’t see this happen ourselves, we have to give a shout out to one of our festie besties, John Goodman, The Chili Finger actor served fans burgers from a Blake’s Junior truck. According to Austin Monthly, he donned an apron and hat to serve guests chili with a side of selfies.
Debby Ryan
Before chatting about the movie The Sun Never Sets, Debby Ryan made sure to point out her love for Austin. “I got married in Austin,” she said. “I like love Austin, I wasn’t sure if you knew.” She went on to detail how and why she and her husband chose Central Texas as their wedding local.
Christina Aguilera
While we were busy covering red carpets, thousands packed into Auditorium Shores for the Sip and Sounds Festival where icon Christina Aguilera took the stage on Friday night. The vocal phenom wowed the audience with an untouched, dynamic range leaving some calling her a “millennial Mariah Carey. If you missed the performance like we did, you can stream the entire set here!
And here’s some more good news: during her What A Girl Wants performance, she teased new music for fans to look forward to!
Billie Lourd
If you don’t already know, I’m a big fan of old Hollywood. I can talk for hours about the golden age of Hollywood, the love triangles, the scandals, etc. And one epic scandal that has always peeked my interest is that of Eddie Fisher and his many wives (ie. Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Connie Stevens). I’m also a huge Star Wars fan so I’ve been following the life and career of Billie Lourd for many years. In case you aren’t aware, she is the daughter of Carrie Fisher and granddaughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Cinema Center hosts the cast and filmmaker premiere party for Love Language. Photo by Lu Chau @Photagonist
I was lucky enough to chat with Billie at the afterparty for Love Language, held at the Cinema Center. Her mother’s books are some of my faves and I shared that I love the audio version because Carrie recorded the dialogue herself. Billie told me she has a book coming out and she is also doing the audio version. Apparently, the memoir will focus on her experiences growing up as a “nepo baby,” promising a poignant, funny look at her life as Hollywood royalty.
Millicent Simmonds
You may recognize Millicent Simmonds from the A Quiet Place series. Now, she stars in Pretty Lethal, alongside Iris Apatow, Lana Candor, Avantika Vandanapu and Maddie Ziegler. The red carpet for this film was one of the most hectic but Millie took the time to connect and speak to everyone, with the assistance of her interpreter.
Watch What Crappens
The chat I had with the guys behind the hit podcast Watch What Crappens at the iHeard Podcast Awards was one of my favorites of the whole week. We talked about Southern Charm, what reality show we’d all like to be in and what reality show needs an Austin edition. Their choice is Real Housewives of Austin, by the way. Watch the clip below to see why they think that franchise would work in the ATX.
Peaky Blinders
I haven’t watched Peaky Blinders but the Netflix pop-up on Congress Avenue was a standout event. In addition to transforming a Congress Avenue bar space into the post WWI era pub The Garrison, they offered complimentary drinks, hats and tintype photos. And for those really looking to commit to the moment, they were also offering free themed haircuts and tattoos. But that’s not all. Star Barry Keoghan even popped by to surprise some lucky fans!
The Birkin
In the middle of the festival, we swung by the new EZ Pawn Luxe store at 1900 East 7th Street. They have so many of my favorite luxury brands for resale like Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and more. I even got to hold a BIRKIN – just like the one Rob gifted Maura after their time on The Traitors. I definitely recommend checking out this luxury focused location. Before you go, click here to get 10% off!
Want more SXSW? You can see all of our highlights here. If you’re looking for more celebrity moments and interviews, be sure to follow Spill the ATX on Instagram, TikTok and/ or YouTube.