SXSW Sydney 2024: Experience The Festival & The Harbourside City

For only the second time ever, SXSW is crossing borders, bringing the world-famous festival to the shores of Sydney. South By Southwest Sydney 2024 is a week-long program featuring boundary-pushing events that include conferences, workshops, live performances and parties spanning Tech & Innovation, Games, Music and Screen.

The festival harnesses innovation, discovery and idea sharing across the Asia Pacific. Sydney is the perfect destination for this event and between conferences or after hours the city offers amazing experiences for delegates and guests. With SXSW Sydney 2024 happening across the week, you’ll have plenty of time to take in the local sights, flavours and iconic spots that make our 'Harbour City' truly special.

A festival of creativity & opportunity

The SXSW Sydney Conference is your gateway to networking, collaborating and creating with the best in the biz. The 2024 lineup is stacked with some big names including Sydney's very own global music sensation, The Kid Laroi, who along with author Johann Hari and barrister Jennifer Robinson, will lead the charge as keynote speakers. 

The music lineup features the “best sounds you’ve never heard of” – a ticket to discovering tomorrow’s rockstars. Leading the lineup is Grammy nominated Jorja Smith (UK), Auckland rapper Brandn Shiraz (NZ) and 87dance (ROK), who’ll join homegrown talent including multi-hyphenate artist Ayesha Madon, Queensland’s Ixaras, VIC-based Rinse & a whole lot more!

Beyond the festival — Cruise Sydney Harbour

Between sessions, step outside the festival and explore one of Sydney's quintessential experiences! Dine in style on a Clearview glass boat lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour – enjoy a deluxe 3-course lunch paired with 360° views of the city skyline. Relax and take it all in as you enjoy a delectable lunch — don’t forget to snap perfect photos of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. You can also check out our signature dinner cruise if you're looking to wrap-up your Sydney evening in style!

Explore two more festival pillars

Back at Darling Harbour, the festival buzz continues to soar. SXSW Sydney Screen showcase will bring TV premieres, short films, five feature films and XR to the city's top venues like The Ritz and Palace Central. Meanwhile, the Games showcase is serving up teasers of what’s next in the industry. Attendees can enjoy hands-on demos, live play and the hottest new releases. And don't miss the award nights at Fortress Sydney – you just might see the next big thing in gaming!

For free events: Visit Tumbalong 

For seven days and nights, Tumbalong Park will be the centre for SXSW Sydney's free events. Visit anytime during the day to enjoy hip-hop, RnB, house and classic performances. And don’t miss the massive celebration of Indian culture with six vibrant acts lighting up the stage, brought to you by the Centre for Australia-India Relations.

The park also hosts a series of tech and innovation showcases, everything from robots, rockets, electric motorbikes and more. Game fans can watch a live Fortnite showdown between top Aussie and NZ high-schools, with gaming stars Lachlan and Loserfruit making special appearances.

Extend the thrill: short break from Sydney 

Sydney is perfectly located for day trips that let you recharge from the festival buzz. Head to the Blue Mountains for jaw-dropping views and hiking trails. If you’re a wine lover, take a short drive to the Hunter Valley and sip your way through its famous vineyards. For a coastal retreat, hop on a ferry to Manly Beach and enjoy a ‘quintessentially Sydney’ day of sun, sand and seafood.

These quick getaways offer the perfect balance to the excitement of SXSW Sydney, showing off a little more of the city’s natural charm.

That just skims the surface of what to expect for the week-long festival, and now you know that Sydney isn’t just the backdrop for the festival, it’s the main character. Experience the best of both worlds, thought-provoking talks and mind-blowing tech to signature harbour cruises and iconic streets. Don’t just attend SXSW – experience it, Sydney-style.