Australian Festival Industry Conference to break for 2024 before returning in 2025

The organisers of the Australian Festival Industry Conference (AFIC) have announced that the event will not be held this year, but will return in 2025.

Advising that this year’s pause is, in part due to its chosen venue Luna Park Sydney, is undertaking major renovations, AFIC founder and Event Director, Carlina Ericson stated “we were prepared to wait until it was available again because it provided to be AFIC’s best venue in the event’s four-year history.”

Luna Park Sydney hosted AFIC for the first time in 2023, across 30th and 31st August, resulting its biggest attendance yet of 150+ delegates and speakers.

Ericson noted “feedback from our delegates was that they absolutely loved Luna Park Sydney for a number of reasons.

“It was central and accessible for those in Sydney, as well as for those from the rest of NSW and Australia, and especially for those who flew in from abroad.

“Besides, how could you beat those spectacular water views? Being able to set sail on our harbour cruise and final networking event was the cherry on top.”

During the 2024 hiatus, Ericson will ensure that AFIC will return “bigger and better in 2025”

Meanwhile, she will head to Europe to attend major festivals and meet with international promoters and suppliers about getting involved in AFIC 2025 as keynote speakers, panellists and workshop curators.

Ericson went on to say “there is so much advancement in festivals and events in the northern hemisphere in terms of technology, security, safety, sustainability and crowd science, among other things.

“These issues are of paramount importance to those who attend AFIC to learn how to better produce quality events, whether it be in the areas of music, arts and culture, food and drink, ‘intellectual and ideas’ or sports.

“It’s important that AFIC continues to maintain its position as the central meeting place for the festival industry sector and its auxiliary businesses.”

Throughout 2024, Ericson will also attend Australian events as Tamworth Country Music Festival, The Gum Ball and Bluesfest to see first-hand the challenges organisers are facing and to speak to their teams, patrons and suppliers about other issues.

Image: NSW Minister for the Arts; Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy; Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham addresses the 2023 AFIC Conference.