South by Southwest Interactive is overwhelming, and you could argue that’s by design.

The vast array of panels, parties, meetups, workshops, trade-show booths and award shows set for March 11-15 (plus SXSW Gaming Expo the following weekend) seem programmed to overstimulate and disorient.

But that variety, fest organizers would tell you, is a feature, not a bug, a way to make the annual tech festival, now in its 23rd year, as big a tent as possible.

But where do you find the good stuff? What programming is best suited to your interests if you’ve got a badge and are working up your schedule?

You can pore through the massive SXSW schedule, focus on featured and keynote speakers, do a search for specific terms or take a look at some highlights we’ve gathered for specific tracks and topics at the fest.

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