We caught up with Nakey Jakey after his talk at SXSW London 2026, his panel “Video Games in London”, which explored how developers can build environments to feel like a real world experience, creating what Jakey called "digital tourism”. He managed to translate one of his Video essays into a live stand up routine with Audience participation.

SXSW returned to London for its second annual run in the UK. After our disappointments last year, we were eager to see if SXSW would take on the criticisms from the previous year and become a more fitting counterpart to the Austin flagship.

Every year, a handful of artists break through the festival season with sets that spark conversations long after the fields empty. Some are already on the rise, others are just getting started, but all have shown why they deserve a spot on your radar. Here are five acts that caught attention across the UK this summer - and where you can see them next.

We learn everything from failure and nothing from success. When I first heard these words, it changed my outlook on everything. Suddenly I realised that growth really does take place outside of comfort..

It’s 2025, and on any given night in Britain you might wander into a backroom pub or tiny club and catch the next big thing – if that venue is still open. Our grassroots music venues – those small, beloved stages where countless artists play their first gigs – are facing an unprecedented crisis.