Overview
2023's inaugural SXSW Sydney saw everyone from Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker and Chance The Rapper to Future Today Institute founder and CEO Amy Webb and Nicole Kidman take to its stages. Who'll follow in their footsteps in 2024? That's the question now that the tech, innovation, screen, music, games and culture festival has confirmed that it will be back next year, running from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 after its first Down Under stint proved a success.
"To say SXSW Sydney left a mark on the city in its inaugural year is an understatement. The team pulled together a remarkable grand-scale event that brought together APAC's creative communities in a way the region had never seen before," said SXSW Sydney Chair Geoff Jones, announcing the news.
"We are thrilled to announce the dates for SXSW Sydney 2024 in partnership with the NSW Government, and look forward to opening more doors for innovators across the tech and innovation, music, screen, games and creative industries."
Locking in SXSW Sydney's 2024 return and dates came with a few stats from the 2023 event, revealing that it notched up 287,014 attendances from 97,462 unique attendees. Those figures came from 34,975 total tickets, with folks from 41 countries heading along to 1178 sessions.
It's too early for SXSW Sydney 2024 lineup drops yet, with applications for the event's Session Select, plus its music, screen and games showcases, set to open in 2024 — and badges due to go on sale then as well.
Among its wealth of highlights, 2023's SXSW Sydney featured Brooker chatting about his hit series and technology's future; Chance The Rapper talking about 50 years of hip hop; Coachella CEO Paul Tollett discussing his own fest; Kidman exploring her work as a producer on the likes of Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and Love & Death; the Australian premiere of Kitty Green's The Royal Hotel; and the world premiere of The Wiggles documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles.
The full lineup spanned a 700-plus strong bill of talent, covering over 300 sessions, and featuring more than 300 gigs across 25 venues. From talks and concerts to films, TV shows and games, there was no shortage of things to see. That's all now in store again in 2024.
SXSW Sydney 2024 will run from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details.
Images: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney.