Australian Festival Industry Conference to return in 2025

The organisers of the Australian Festival Industry Conference (AFIC) have advised that the event will return again in 2025 – being staged on 8th and 9th September next year at Rivershed in Brisbane.

AFIC is the only conference in Australia dedicated exclusively to servicing the thousands of festival industry professionals that produce quality music, arts and culture, food and drink, “intellectual and ideas” and sporting festivals.

Announcing AFIC’s return, AFIC founder and Event Director, Carlina Ericson stated “I’m pleased to announce that AFIC will be returning once again, to bring the industry back together for a fourth edition.”.

It will be the first time that AFIC is held in Brisbane, giving South-East Queenslanders, in particular, a prime opportunity at attending the event.

Ericson said the break in 2024 proved to be useful and reinforced the need to hold the event every second year, noting “it’s been great to have a break during 2024.

“I took the opportunity to get out and attend some amazing festivals across the country, including Tamworth Country Music Festival, Meatstock at Sydney Showground, Bluesfest Byron Bay, The Gum Ball in NSW’s Hunter Valley, Glenreagh Timber Festival in country NSW and Blues on Broadbeach on the stunning Gold Coast.

“I met some amazing contacts along the way and was able to see first-hand what’s going on in the industry right now. It’s clear that the industry is still facing a number of key issues, which therefore reinforces the need for AFIC to return.”

While the conference program will be formally unveiled next year, AFIC 2025 is set to include:

• Keynotes

• Presentations from some of Australia’s industry-leading professionals

• A special Q&A with Greg Cavanagh, Chief Executive of Gympie Music Muster

• Panel discussions

• Presentations by four new cutting-edge products and services to hit the Australian market

• Two networking functions

• Trade exhibition

In 2023, a record 150+ people travelled to Luna Park Sydney across 30th and 31st August to attend AFIC’s third edition with the event drawing delegates from across Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

A range of private, not-for-profit and public sector festival organisers attended the event, as well as suppliers, grant providers and educational institutions.

Click here for more information in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

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 (top) and AFIC founder and Event Director, Carlina Ericson (below).