Variety to Host Inaugural True Crime Summit at SXSW

Speakers include Nancy Grace, John Allen (MrBallen), Beth Karas, Natalie Morales and more.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Variety will host its inaugural True Crime Summit at SXSW, presented by Investigation Discovery, on March 13, convening the most influential voices behind one of entertainment's most dominant and culturally resonant genres. This full-day event, open to all festival badgeholders, will explore the enduring global obsession with stories of mystery, justice and deception, from prestige documentaries and investigative journalism to hit television series and chart-topping podcasts.

Why it matters

True crime series, movies, and podcasts continue to grow in popularity, and Variety recognizes the value of connecting fans with creators and experts in the genre. The summit will offer the SXSW audience direct access to the creative minds behind leading documentaries, series and podcasts, exploring how the genre is evolving and being redefined.

The details

The day will open with a keynote conversation featuring Nancy Grace, legal commentator and host of 'Crime Stories With Nancy Grace,' in discussion with Dea Lawrence, co-president and publisher of Variety. The program will also spotlight how Investigation Discovery is redefining the genre through its 'Docbuster' programming strategy, with a session exploring how event-level documentaries can be urgent and impactful while remaining empathetic and rooted in the voices most affected. Other sessions will examine what it takes to translate true crime events into compelling narratives, the meteoric rise of digital-first crime storytelling, the booming business of true crime storytelling, and standout true crime projects premiering at the festival.

  • The True Crime Summit will take place on March 13, 2026 at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

The players

Nancy Grace

Legal commentator and host of 'Crime Stories With Nancy Grace'.

Dea Lawrence

Co-president and publisher of Variety.

Jason Sarlanis

President of TNT, TBS, TruTV, ID and HLN.

John Allen

Widely known as MrBallen and creator and host of 'MrBallen's Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories'.

Hooman Shahidi

Chief Product Officer of SimpliSafe.

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What they’re saying

“As true crime series, movies, and podcasts continue to grow in popularity, Variety recognizes the value of connecting fans with creators and experts in the genre. We are pleased to partner with Investigation Discovery on the inaugural True Crime Summit, offering the SXSW audience direct access to the creative minds behind leading documentaries, series and podcasts.”

— Dea Lawrence, Co-president and publisher of Variety (Variety)

“True crime remains one of today's most captivating genres, continuously sparking culturally shifting conversations. At Investigation Discovery, we're incredibly proud to lead the space, delivering storytelling that is compelling, nuanced, and powerful. Partnering with an esteemed outlet like Variety on this summit underscores just how significant and dynamic this genre has become, and we're honored that the creativity and care we put into our work is being recognized as part of the movement driving important conversations across our society.”

— Jason Sarlanis, President of ID (Variety)

What’s next

The True Crime Summit at SXSW will take place on March 13, 2026.

The takeaway

The inaugural Variety True Crime Summit at SXSW will bring together the most influential voices in the genre, exploring how true crime storytelling continues to captivate audiences and reshape the entertainment landscape across film, television, and audio.