Sad day for SXSW Sydney: 2026 festival cancelled

SXSW Sydney has been suddenly cancelled, with organisers citing “prevailing market conditions” as a key reason.

The announcement was made on January 14 via a press release on the SXSW Sydney website.

SXSW, which originated in Austin, Texas in 1987, is a festival and a conference all rolled into one. It celebrates everything from tech, film, music, education and creativity. In 2023, the event expanded to Sydney, Australia.

SXSW Sydney generated an estimated $ 276 million in economic impact during its three-year tenure. It also attracted more than 63,000 out-of-region attendees.

The 2025 event alone recorded an estimated total attendance of 345,000, a 15% year-on-year increase.

“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,” say co-managing directors, Simon Cahill and Jono Whyman.

A rare moment

Clear Hayes PR general manager Susie Thomson-Evans attended all three Sydney events. She says she saw first-hand how quickly the festival matured and found its rhythm.

“In a short space of time, it became more confident, more relevant and increasingly connected to our region. I’m genuinely sad to see the festival turn off the lights.”

The loss will be felt even more strongly from an Aotearoa New Zealand perspective, she adds. In 2025, Thomson-Evans noticed an increase in Kiwi attendance and the momentum the event was building across the Tasman.

“SXSW Sydney was becoming a rare moment where the ANZ marketing, media and tech communities could come together at scale, without having to look to the US or Europe.”

Cancellation leaves gap in the calendar

At the first Sydney event, the Clear Hayes team launched Clear Hayes House as a hub for marketing and advertising industry. Thomson-Evans has also presented at the event, something she says she will “always be proud of”. 

“This leaves a big gap in the ANZ events calendar and is a reminder of how tough the global economic climate is right now. I’ll miss the conversations, the shared energy, the beer, wine and banter, and yes, the gyozas on tap [Clear Hayes House was hosted at the Harajuku Gyoza Beer Stadium]. Most of all, I’ll miss the camaraderie that SXSW Sydney created. It was something special. Congratulations to the SXSW Sydney team on an incredible achievement.”

Bittersweet goodbye

In a separate statement on the SXSW Sydney website, the team write that it is bittersweet to be saying goodbye while the momentum from the 2025 event is still so high.

“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.”

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