Beyond the Badge: A Complete Guide to Every Award Ceremony Worth Knowing About at SXSW 2026

Originally published on recognized.fm South by Southwest 2026 hosts a remarkable concentration of awards ceremonies across audio, film, television, and digital culture. This guide covers the three major podcasting award events in detail: the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards, the inaugural Independent Podcast and Creator Awards (Indie PaC Awards), the SXSW Film & TV Awards, each distinct in format, eligibility, and what they recognize. The SXSW Awards Schedule Fri–Sat, March 13–14: SXSW Pitch: Startup showcase across nine categories, a live audience and a panel of investor judges Fri–Sun, March 13–15: Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW: Multi-day conference at Skybox on 6th Sun, March 15 (4:30–7:00 PM): Indie PaC Awards Ceremony: Closes out Podcast Movement Evolutions Mon, March 16 (7:00 PM): 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards Ceremony: ACL Live at the Moody Theater Wed, March 18 (7:30 PM): SXSW Film & TV Awards: Paramount Theatre. An official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards Short Film comp