SXSW to Launch Australia Festival in 2023

Austin’s South by Southwest conference and festival is headed to Australia. The Texas-born event is bringing its famed celebration of the technology, film and music industries to Sydney across seven days and nights from Oct. 15-22, 2023, it was announced Wednesday (June 29).

SXSW Sydney will bring together the industries of music, gaming, film, television, technology and innovation much like the American version that launched in 1987. SXSW Sydney will be a collaboration with Australian promoter TEG and The New South Wales (NSW) Government along with its tourism agency, Destination NSW. The new edition will serve as the official annual Asia-Pacific installment of SXSW as the event builds on its more than three-decades-long foundation.

“We couldn’t be more excited and honored to work with TEG and the New South Wales Government via Destination NSW on an event that brings to Australia the professional opportunities and unexpected discoveries that make SXSW unique,” said SXSW CEO Roland Swenson in a release. “The purpose of SXSW is to help creative people achieve their goals, and Sydney is the ideal city to serve as a home for the cross-collaboration that exists within the many industries we bring together.”

SXSW in Austin was one of the first major live events to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference and festival returned in 2021 with virtual events before resuming in-person concerts, panels, parties and more in March 2022.

“SXSW is an event without equal internationally that has launched the careers of so many creative professionals,” said TEG group CEO Geoff Jones, who will lead production for SXSW Sydney. “Through showcasing the creator industries of the Asia Pacific to the world, SXSW Sydney will establish a new SXSW touchpoint, enabling the international and cross-sector connections that deliver the most innovative products and content.” Later in the statement, Jones revealed that Colin Daniels will serve as SXSW Sydney’s managing director.

In April 2021, it was announced that SXSW had signed a “lifeline” deal with P-MRC, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, making P-MRC a stakeholder and long-term partner with the Austin festival. P-MRC is the parent company of Billboard.

Industry professionals, talent, partners and more can register their interest now at sxswsydney.com.