Crossed Wires is to co-curate the podcasting programme at SXSW London 2026, with Miquita Oliver and Jamie Laing added to a line-up.
The festival’s co-founder Alice Levine will host the SXSW London Podcasting Track, bringing together leading podcast hosts, producers and executives for a full day of discussions on Wednesday 3 June, 10am – 5.10pm Christ Church Spitalfields (The Nave).
Two newly announced sessions have been added to the programme.
The first, Beyond Podcasting: Building Shows People Belong To, features Miquita Oliver, Jamie Laing, Dino Sofos and Craig Strachan. The panel will explore how successful podcasts become communities that audiences actively identify with.
Second, is Crossed Wires: The Live Podcasting Boom, which includes Danny Robins, Alice Levine, Dino Sofos and Jonny Kanagasooriam, looking at the rapid rise of live podcast events and the growing appetite for in-person experiences.
Other sessions on the SXSW London schedule include appearances from Elis James and John Robins, Joe Marler, GK Barry, Fin Taylor and Keisha Buchanan.
Sessions will cover audience loyalty, community-led growth, podcast launches, creator monetisation and how shows can expand into broader entertainment brands.
Crossed Wires has also appointed Ian Bushell as Managing Director, who brings more than 25 years’ experience in live entertainment, experiential marketing and commercial strategy.
He has worked with organisations including Ministry of Sound, Universal Music Group, Coca-Cola and Formula One.
His previous projects include Ministry of Sound’s Millennium Dome New Year’s Eve event, Nokia’s international New Year’s Eve campaigns and Formula 1’s F1 Rocks music platform.
Crossed Wires returns to Sheffield from 2 to 5 July for its third event. More than 45,000 people attended the festival across last year and this year, with shows including Help I Sexted My Boss, Dish, The Adam Buxton Show and Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything.
This year’s line-up includes Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball, Elis and John, Uncanny Cold Cases, How to Fail, British Scandal and Bold Politics.
The festival will also partner with BBC Sounds for a second year of free Fringe events, with additional acts due to be announced on 2 June.
Dino Sofos said podcasting deserved to “get out of people’s headphones and into venues and cities full of fans”, adding that podcast audiences are now as passionate as those in music and sport.
Ian Bushell said Crossed Wires had created “something really special” and that he was looking forward to helping it reach wider audiences in the UK and internationally.
Katarina Sherling, Head of Conference, SXSW London said a podcasting track was “a complete no brainer”, reflecting the medium’s growing cultural and commercial importance.
