The organisers of SXSW Sydney have sadly announced that the festival, which first launched in Sydney in 2023, will not return in 2026. After only 3 years of running, it’s a shame to see the festival, which brought together the film, music, and technology industries come to such an early end.
The Sydney edition of the festival was the first international expansion of SXSW, which has been held in Austin, Texas since 1987 and continues to draw large attendees.
It’s important to recognise that the Sydney edition of SXSW was not run by the orginers of SXSW Austin. The SXSW name and branding was licensed by Australian event management group TEG, while the conference received strong sponsorship and funding from the NSW Government and Destination NSW as key sponsors. TEG’s Group CEO Geoff Jones served as event producer (and later became SXSW Sydney chair), while Colin Daniels was appointed as managing director to oversee operations.
In a statement the organisers shared this:
“Every great story has a final page, and it is with a heavy heart that we share that SXSW Sydney has reached its closing chapter and will not be returning in 2026.
It’s bittersweet to be saying goodbye while the momentum is so high. We’re still celebrating the success of this past year – one that saw total attendance of more than 345,000 (representing a 15% year-on-year increase) and cemented a three-year cumulative economic impact of $276 million.
To the tens of thousands of you who filled the halls of ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour, and surrounds over the past three years: thank you for being a part of the SXSW Sydney journey. You didn’t just attend an event; you came together to help us build a vibrant, global community that transformed the heart of our city every October.
While this chapter ends here, the connections made and the ideas sparked on our stages will continue to resonate. Thank you for making these past three years unforgettable.” END STATEMENT
SXSW Sydney was an important expansion in Australia’s offering of conferences that bring together creatives and business professionals. In our own experience, it provided a crucial opportunity to connect with people over an entire week of events that included film screenings, keynote speeches, and more intimate social events like band gigs.
During the 2025 festival, we had a chance to speak to some actors and creatives about why SXSW Sydney was such an exciting and important event for bringing people together. You can watch those interviews here:
It’s a shame to see the festival live such a short life. In the meantime, we an only hope that another organisation sees the value in the brand to pick up the license and revive the festival in Sydney. With such strong growth over the short three year run, a dedicated community of attendees represent a missed opportunity that is being left behind in Sydney tech and creative industry.
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