Austin Sister Cities International Signature Events reflect our role as the umbrella organization for our sister cities—bringing together cultures, ideas, and people from each of our sister cities and complementing the many events hosted by our individual sister cities throughout the year.
2026 SXSW International welcome breakfast
There’s nothing more powerful than a people-to-people connection.
The 2026 SXSW International Welcome Breakfast, hosted by Austin Sister Cities International in partnership with the City of Austin, brought together 250 attendees on Friday, March 13, 2026—welcoming 20 international delegations in a global celebration of citizen diplomacy in action.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us—we’re so grateful to our attendees, partners, and international guests who made this gathering so meaningful and impactful.
We’re also grateful to our inspiring speakers, including Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, ASCI Chair Kristie Bryant, and SXSW Chief Commercial Officer Peter Lewis.
Thank you to the City of Austin for your continued support as we build bridges across our sister cities and foster a community that celebrates Austin’s global spirit.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2026 Passport to the World Festival
Sunday, November 8, 2026 at the austin central library
The Passport to the World Annual Festival hosted by Austin Sister Cities International features FREE programming exploring Austin's Sister Cities through live performances, interactive games and crafts, and much more!
ASCI Business & Culture Protocol workshops
Austin Sister Cities International (ASCI) Annual Business Protocol Workshops are a high level overview of business etiquette and multicultural manners with a focus on Austin’s Sister Cities across the world. Discussion includes expectations around gift giving, dining, exchanging business cards, and more. This session is for persons who are thinking about doing business abroad, working with international companies , or have interactions with persons from other cultures.
Presented in partnership with Austin Community College by Kevin A. Clark, Ph.D., Ph.D. (AM Thesis).
