SXSW Sydney cancelled

Photo Credit: SXSW Sydney

After only a three-year run, Australia’s SXSW Sydney has been cancelled following the New South Wales government pulling its funding.

SXSW Sydney, Australia’s version of the music, technology, and media conference, will not return this year after the New South Wales government pulled its funding. Organizers confirmed the news in a message posted on the SXSW Sydney website. The short-lived event’s cancellation marks just the latest blow to the Australian arts scene.

“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 [AUD]$276 million [$184 million],” wrote SXSW Sydney organizers.

“SXSW Sydney would not have been possible without our partners, Destination NSW and SXSW, as well as those who contributed to the event—our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees. SXSW Sydney was an unforgettable three-year journey, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the people who joined us for it,” said co-managing directors Simon Cahill and Jono Whyman in a joint statement.

“We are especially grateful to the SXSW Sydney team for their dedication and hard work in bringing this event to live and establishing a platform that showcased Australia and the Asia-Pacific as pioneers in global culture,” said Jenny Connelly, Director in Charge of SXSW. “SXSW Sydney represented an ambitious and meaningful extension of the SXSW brand, and we are incredibly proud of what was built in partnership with the Sydney team, Destination NSW, and the broader creative community.”

“Over three years, SXSW Sydney demonstrated the power of convening global innovators, creatives, and leaders, and created a platform that elevated voices from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region onto the world stage,” Connelly concluded. “While the event will not proceed in 2026, we are grateful for the collaboration, creativity, and commitment that defined SXSW Sydney.”

The first global expansion of Austin, Texas’ beloved festival, which has been running since 1987, SXSW Sydney launched in 2023. According to The Australian Financial Review, the event was initially backed by the New South Wales government with AUD$12 million ($8 million) in funding.

Despite the Sydney iteration coming to a close after only three years, SXSW still has hopes of a blossoming international presence. The first edition of SXSW London launched in June 2025.