Creative industries festival SXSW Sydney launched at ICC Sydney

Asia Pacific’s largest innovation, culture, gaming, music and screen festival - SXSW Sydney® - launched last night at International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) with the Convention Centre also being the anchor venue for the inaugural event running from 15th-22nd October 2023.

The precinct welcomed thousands of patrons to the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival’s Opening Night film premiere of The Royal Hotel, followed by a welcome party in Tumbalong Park, ahead of an extraordinary line-up of events planned across the venue.              

The SXSW Sydney Conference features over 400 presentations, panels, workshops and mentor sessions with inspiring thinkers and transformative leaders across multiple content pillars. Keynote presentations will feature speakers Nicole Kidman, Chance The Rapper, AI expert Amy Webb, Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker and games luminaries Amy and Mike Morhaime.

The SXSW Sydney Tech & Innovation Expo will showcase innovative and emerging tech, entertainment and games companies from across the Asia Pacific region, alongside the SXSW Sydney Pitch competition for startups and the SXSW Sydney Games Festival – including the world’s longest running major Esports tournament – the Intel® Extreme Masters, an internationally-renowned gamers’ mecca.  

NSW Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham noted “Straight from Austin, Texas to Sydney, our city will be the centre of the music, screen, gaming and tech world this week as we welcome locals and visitors to enjoy the inaugural SXSW Sydney. I’m very pleased that people attending SXSW will have the chance to see Sydney at its best after dark, soaking up music, ideas, and culture.  It’s the first time this event is being held outside of its Texas origins.  

“SXSW Sydney will be a game-changing event for NSW. It is just the beginning of an unrivalled cultural events calendar over the coming months showcasing Sydney’s local talent, creativity, culture and natural beauty that draws people in from across the country and around the world.”

ICC Sydney Chief Executive and Group Director – Convention Centres, ASM Global (APAC), Geoff Donaghy said SXSW Sydney is an unmissable event at the venue that will build Sydney’s cultural capital. 

Donaghy enthused “we are thrilled to welcome SXSW Sydney to ICC Sydney and kick start the pivotal event that brings together thousands of film, culture, innovation and gaming enthusiasts from around the world to our powerhouse destination.

“Delivering extraordinary experiences for the diversity of SXSW Sydney visitors is just the beginning and we look forward to activating our Legacy Program’s Creative Industries stream as we connect attendees to Australia’s emerging and established creative talent.”

Since its inception in 1987, South by Southwest (SXSW®) has been held in Austin, Texas and has been a convergence of film, music, education, and culture, a global destination for creative people to connect, collaborate and think outside the box. SXSW® has expanded into Sydney for the first time this month offering new experiences for visitors.

The SXSW Sydney 2023 program including events presented at the anchor venue ICC Sydney can be found here

To find out more about ICC Sydney visit www.iccsydney.com