Stacey Abrams will headline South by Southwest as a keynote speaker, event organizers announced Thursday morning.
The Democratic politician and voting rights activist will sit for a conversation with writer N.K. Jemisin as part of the virtual festival, which will run March 16-20. Abrams, who was recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her work increasing voter turnout during the 2020 presidential election, joins previously announced keynote speaker Willie Nelson.
The conference, which has been dubbed SXSW Online, has lined up a number of speakers for socially distanced sessions about film, music and interactive technology. They include Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, singer-songwriter Carole King and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.
SXSW’s featured sessions include a conversation about mental health between Olympian Alexi Pappas and actor Bill Hader; a fireside chat with Joe and Anthony Russo and Elizabeth Banks; and a talk about documentary series Secrets of the Whales with director James Cameron and National Geographic explorer Brian Skerry.
Other people who will appear no panels during the festival include digital creator David Dobrik, late night hosts Samantha Bee and Amber Ruffin and Big Hit Entertainment CEO Lenzo Yoon.
“We’re truly excited about the remarkable range of creative talent and innovators that we’ve announced today as part of SXSW Online,” said SXSW chief programming officer Hugh Forrest. “In the 30 plus years of SXSW, we’ve showcased so many incredible voices who have shown tremendous courage and leadership, which is why we’re excited to add Nobel Peace Prize nominee Stacey Abrams as a keynote for 2021. Moreover, her conversation with science fiction writer N.K. Jemisin taps into the kind of creative energy that only happens at SXSW.”
