Austin Convention Center

The Basics

Those planning or attending a trade show, convention, industry meeting, or event at the Austin Convention Center find its downtown Austin location convenient for exploring the rest of the city. Experience downtown Austin on any number of guided tours, including a Segway, bus, walking, or food tour. Some experiences focus on specific Austin highlights such as music, barbecue, or beer, while others focus on outdoor experiences such as kayaking or biking.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Austin Convention Center has an on-site business center for scanning, copying, printing, and other business needs. Postal services are also available.

• Look for the digital flight departure and arrival board with real-time flight information from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

• A limited number of motorized scooters are available for rent.

• The Austin Convention Center has an on-site gift shop with lots of Austin- and Texas-focused merchandise.

How to Get There

The Austin Convention Center is bordered by Cesar Chavez and 4th Street, and Trinity and Red River streets in downtown Austin, Texas. It’s 8 miles northwest of the airport. There are two paid parking garages nearby, one on 2nd Street and the other on 5th Street. The Capital Metro light rail stops in front of the convention center on 4th Street.

When to Get There

Some of the biggest events at the Austin Convention Center are South by Southwest in March, DreamHack in April, and Wizard World Austin Comic Con in fall. If you can, tack a few extra days onto your visit for more time to explore downtown Austin and the surrounding areas.

SXSW

South by Southwest is one of Austin Convention Center’s largest events, bringing 150,000 people to downtown Austin. SXSW (or “South By”) started in 1987 as a music festival. Over the years, the conference/festival expanded its reach into multimedia, film, education, and interactive sessions. Twitter was introduced at SXSW in 2007.