President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama announced as keynote speakers at SXSW
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have been confirmed as keynote speakers at this year's SXSW.
The President will appear on Friday 11 March as part of a keynote conversation at SXSW Interactive, while Michelle will give the opening keynote at SXSW Music on 16 March.
They will be the first sitting President and First Lady to participate in SXSW's 30-year history.
President Obama is set to sit with Evan Smith, the CEO/Editor-In-Chief of The Texas Tribune to talk about "civic engagement in the 21st Century", while Michelle is set to discuss the Let Girls Learn programme, which "aims to break barriers for the 62 million girls around the world who are not in school today". Baracks' event is open to all Interactive, Gold, and Platinum registrants; Michelle's is open to Music, Film, Gold, and Platinum registrants.
SXSW 2016 takes place from 11-20 March across the city of Austin, Texas. As usual, there will be three portions - Interactive, Film, and Music. The Music segment runs from 15-20 March.
Other keynote speakers at the festival include David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti, Casey Gerald, and Ellen Page and Ian Daniel.
Ticket packages for SXSW 2016 are now available, with the Music-only bundle costing $895.
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