These Are the SXSW Sydney 2025 Highlights Every Culture Lover Should Have on Their Radar

For one electric week this October, SXSW Sydney transforms the city into a live, living festival of creativity. With more than 1600 sessions and events taking place between October 13–19, including over 400 conference talks, 300-plus gigs, 100 film screenings and hundreds of brand activations, it's the ultimate playground for the culturally curious.

Whether you're looking to catch the next breakout artist or want a front-row seat at Australian film premieres, a SXSW Sydney Wristband ($140) is your all-access pass. The Music Wristband unlocks entry to every gig across the week, while the Screen Wristband gets you into all festival screenings — from exclusive previews to star-studded conversations. And for the Screen Festival, you can also grab a $25 rush ticket to guarantee your seat at some of this year's hottest screenings — and if you can't grab a wristband, you can still check out a heap of free gigs at Tumbalong Park as part of SXSW Sydney Unlocked.

Here's your cheat sheet to all the moments that'll make your pass pay for itself.

Celebrate ten years of Hoops with The Rubens

To mark the tenth anniversary of their breakthrough album Hoops, Aussie alt-rockers The Rubens headline a free all-ages mini-festival at Tumbalong Park on Saturday, October 18. Hoops & Everything, co-curated by The Rubens and the SXSW Sydney crew, is an all-day event that will spotlight emerging talents like Chicago indie duo Whitney, Folk Bitch Trio, Mariae Cassandra and Velvet Trip, serving up a huge day of genre-blurring sounds shaping the future of live music right in the heart of the city. No wristband? No worries — Hoops & Everything is part of SXSW Sydney Unlocked, meaning you can head in for free.

See Ninajirachi ride her ARIA-nominated momentum

From the Central Coast to opening for the likes of Charli XCX and Cashmere Cat, Ninajirachi is a star on the rise — and her eight ARIA Award nominations, the most of any artist, are testament to that. Don't miss one of Australia's most exciting electronic producers as she takes to the stage at American Apparel House at The Chippo on Wednesday, October 15, for a high-energy set that'll show you why the NSW artist is next-gen dance royalty.

Get bootscootin', baby, at the Tumbalong Honky Tonk

Dust off your boots for the Tumbalong Honky Tonk on Friday, October 17, and get ready to two-step under the Sydney skyline. Take a line dancing lesson from the Saddle Club before high-energy sets from chart-topping Max Jackson, Canadian country trio The Washboard Union, viral teen sensation Lewis Love and golden-rock duo Big Wheels.

Discover the next global star at the International Stage

From Indonesian hip hoppers Tenxi, Jemsii and Naykilla to the soulful stylings of Chinese singer-songwriter Tia Ray and Japanese boy band PSYCHIC FEVER, the International Stage is a world tour without leaving Sydney. Catch some of the best next-gen talent from around the world on the International Stage at Tumbalong Park on Wednesday, October 15, part of the free SXSW Sydney Unlocked program.

Feel the power of First Nations creativity at Blak to the Future

Headlined by rapper Tasman Keith, Blak to the Future is a free outdoor showcase that celebrates the future of First Nations music and screen culture, as part of the SXSW Sydney Unlocked program. Head to Tumbalong Park on Thursday, October 16, for an evening of short films from emerging filmmakers and live performances from Akala Newman, Mr Rhodes and RIAH, all coming together to shine a light on the future of First Nations storytelling.

See the stars at exclusive screenings

A SXSW Sydney Screen Wristband gets you closer to the action with access to in-person appearances and live conversations. Catch Noah Centineo introducing his new film, Our Hero, Balthazar, live, and don't miss an exclusive first-look preview of the upcoming Glen Powell-starring action thriller The Running Man. The debut footage will be followed by a live chat moderated by Nash Edgerton, featuring director Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) joining remotely.

Celebrate a comedy legend with Paul Feig in conversation and on screen

Celebrated filmmaker Paul Feig is heading to SXSW Sydney as the event's inaugural Screen Pioneer Award recipient. Catch his must-see keynote conversation on Wednesday, October 15, where he'll share career stories and creative insights with his trademark wit. Screenings of his greatest hits will also take place across the week, including Bridesmaids (plus a live Q&A with Feig himself), The Heat, and a 14-hour Freaks & Geeks marathon at The Ritz. These sessions are selling fast, so grab a rush ticket to guarantee your seat.

Walk the red carpet for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

The Australian premiere of this absorbing biopic opens the SXSW Sydney Screen program. Starring Jeremy Allen White as the Boss himself, the film tells the story of the legendary American rocker creating his 1982 acoustic album Nebraska.

Catch Australian premieres and cult gems before they break out

Your SXSW Sydney Screen Wristband is your ticket to a stack of Australian and NSW premieres, including a first-look at upcoming horror flick Black Phone 2, time-travel mockumentary Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie, Yorgos Lanthimos' absurdist sci-fi caper Bugonia, the haunting Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson-starring Die My Love and offbeat comedy-drama If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. You'll also find buzzed-about features like Japanese viral thriller Exit 8, By Design starring Juliette Lewis, and Psycho Therapy, a dark comedy led by Steve Buscemi.

For the full SXSW Sydney 2025 lineup, head to the SXSW Sydney website — and get your all-access wristband at the ticketing website.