# Virtual Media Festivals SXSW Online XR Invites People to Experience Austin Online By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2021-03-05 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sxsw-online-xr References: [adweek](https://www.adweek.com/media/sxsw-will-build-a-virtual-downtown-austin-for-attendees-to-experience-in-vr/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Adfreak+%28Adfreak%29) & [sxsw](https://www.sxsw.com/film/2021/announcing-sxsw-online-xr/) Last year, it was early into the pandemic that SXSW was canceled, leaving no time for the event to be offered in another format - a year later, there's an all-new experience called SXSW Online XR. Since March of last year, countless in-person events have been completely reimagined as totally virtual experiences and now, SXSW 2021 is being introduced in a fresh virtual setting. The experience is set to share live panels, special events, 360-degree videos and opportunities for online meet-ups. In collaboration with world-renowned artists and the social XR events studio VRrOOm, SXSW created an aesthetically pleasing environment that can be experienced on VRChat. Unlike past events, this iteration will give attendees the chance to mingle in virtual reality and get a taste of Austin venues like The Paramount Theatre, Empire Control Room & Garage and Cedar Street Courtyard, virtually. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Virtual Reality Events:** The rise of virtual media festivals and virtual reality events presents an opportunity for the creation of new immersive digital experiences. - **Online Social XR Platforms:** Development of online social XR platforms can facilitate new ways of networking and socializing in the virtual realm. - **360-degree Video Production:** Incorporation of 360-degree video production in virtual events creates opportunities for new forms of dynamic content creation. ### Who This Affects Most - **Entertainment:** Entertainment industry can harness virtual media festivals as a new way of generating revenue and promote their products and services to a global audience. - **Technology:** Technology industry can leverage the growth of virtual reality events and online social XR platforms to develop new products and services that cater to this market. - **Marketing and Advertising:** The marketing and advertising industry can utilize virtual media festivals to reach and engage with audiences in new and innovative ways. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [NFT-Focused Festival Sponsorships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blockchain-creative-labs.md) - [NYE Party Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vnye.md) - [In-Person Gallery Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whataburger-museum-of-art.md) - [Immersive Virtual Reality Concerts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/immersion-vr.md) - [Hybrid Metaverse Festivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/absolutland.md) - [Reinterpreted Immersive Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wizard-of-oz-360.md) - [Metaverse Music Festivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/le-phoque-off.md) - [Digital Audio-Visual Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/audiovisual-exhibition.md) - [Immersive 3D Fashion Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portalm-x-virtual-fashion-exhibition.md)