Frequently asked questions

From Free Events to Platinum Passes, there's a way for anyone to experience SXSW Sydney. To attend the Conference, you'll need a Pass - a Platinum Pass, a Pro Pass (Music, Screen, Games or Tech & Innovation) or a Conference Day Pass (new for 2025). Festival access is included with a Platinum or Pro Pass, or you can buy a Festival Wristband (Music, Screen or Games). For a taste of SXSW Sydney pick up a single Movie ticket or an Innovation Expo Day Pass or check out the Free Program - partner experiences and events - live music and more.

Ready to experience SXSW Sydney like a VIP? The Platinum Pass is your all-access ticket to everything that makes this event special. Xpress access makes it possible to skip a line to the most popular sessions, and get primary access to all the cool stuff happening across Tech & Innovation, Music, Games, and Screen Festivals - from mixers to can't-miss special events. Want to network in style? We've got you covered with exclusive access to the Platinum Party, a luxe lounge at the ICC, and your own bar in the Broadway precinct. Need to squeeze in some work? There's a dedicated co-working space just for you. Grab your Platinum Pass and get ready for an unforgettable experience.

Want to make the most of SXSW Sydney? A Pro Pass is perfect for anyone looking to dive deep into what interests them most. Pick your primary focus‚ Tech & Innovation, Music, Games, or Screen‚ and get primary access to all its amazing content, from industry showcases to networking events. Your days will be packed with professional development sessions and industry showcases, plus plenty of evening entertainment and networking to unwind after all that learning. The best part? You can still check out everything else happening across the other festivals (noting that those with primary access get first dibs if there's a line when you arrive).

Can only spare a day for SXSW Sydney 2025? No problem! Our Conference Day Pass lets you pack a full day of learning and inspiration at the ICC from 9am to 5pm. Dive into any of the 100+ daily sessions across 23 tracks, plus catch some of the free evening programming to round out your experience. Or, plan to attend with an Innovation Expo Day Pass ($40) or a single Movie Screening ($25) or any of the Free Program.

Consider a one day Innovation Expo Pass ($40) or a single session tickets for any Screen Festival screening ($25). There will also be an extensie Free Program with a diverse lineup of brand and partner experiences, music showcases and family-friendly entertainment. Single session tickets are not available for the Conference, however a Conference Day Pass is a new option this year. There is no single Access to individual Games Festival events or Music Festival events, however cover charge access to some Music venues may be sold on the door for $25, depending on the capacity of the venue at the venues discretion.

Can only spare a day for SXSW Sydney 2025? No problem! Our Conference Day Pass lets you pack a full day of learning and inspiration at the ICC from 9am to 5pm. Dive into any of the 100+ daily sessions across 23 tracks, plus catch some of the free evening programming to round out your experience. Purchase now - Plan later. The first to purchase their Conference Day Pass will have the first chance to choose their preferred Conference day, in June. After that, days can be changed later in the year, subject to availability. Heads up ‚ these passes are limited so grab yours as soon as you can, from March 20.

Ready to dive into the creative heart of SXSW Sydney? Pick up a Festival Wristband and immerse yourself in Music, Games, or Screen Showcases. Plus, you'll get access to the Innovation Expo and cool brand activations across the precinct from Wednesday to Saturday. Quick tip: Festival Wristband/Ticket holders get in right after Pass holders ‚ if there's space and no Pass holders waiting, you're good to go! Choose Your Adventure: Music: Create your perfect festival lineup from 300+ performances across Chippendale, Broadway, and Darling Harbour Screen: Craft your dream film fest with 90 screenings Games: Get hands-on with 120+ games and meet the brilliant minds behind them

No, only Pass holders can access the Conference.

No, the wristband only grants you entry to its respective Festival.

SXSW Sydney Pass allows you access the Conference, with different access depending on the choice of a Platinum Pass, Pro Pass or Conference Day Pass. A wristband gives you access to either the Games, Music or Screen Festivals and the Innovation Expo, but does not provide any access to the Conference. Wristbands allow access to every day of each Festival, each offering at least 4 days of fun.

Throughout SXSW Sydney, some events will be busy and reach capacity quickly. Festival events will have a Primary and Secondary line to manage crowds. If you want primary access for every Festival event, the Platinum badge is the way to go. All other Badges will get you primary access to all of the events specifically relating to the specific type of Badge, access to the Conference, and secondary access to everything else. There'll be hundreds of exciting events to join with any Badge, so you'll have endless opportunities to get inspired, meet new people and discover the unexpected.

The SXSW Sydney Innovation Expo will run from Wednesday October 15 to Saturday October 18 and feature a wide range of exhibitors, the XR showcase and hundreds of talks on the Discovery Stage and the Next Stage. For only $40 for an Expo Day Pass it's a perfect way to take in a taste of SXSW Sydney. The Innovation Expo is held in the ICC Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour.

To enquire about group bookings (purchases of 10 or more badges) please email groups@sxswsydney.com

Badges are now called Passes. A Pro Pass (Music) in 2025 is the same as a Music Badge in 2024. A Pro Pass (Tech & Innovation) in 2025 is the same as a Tech & Innovation Badge in 2024. A Pro Pass (Games) in 2025 is the same as a Games Badge in 2024. A Pro Pass (Screen) in 2025 is the same as a Screen Badge in 2024.

Alongside a diverse lineup of brand and partner experiences, SXSW Sydney will feature must-see music showcases from Wednesday to Friday, live performances on Saturday, and family-friendly entertainment on Sunday‚ all free and happening in and around Darling Harbour.

There will be four phases of badge sales for SXSW Sydney 2025. Each phase is subject to a price increase, so the sooner you register, the more you will save. You can find out more including our pricing schedule here.

There is no American Express Card Holder offer in 2025.

Can only spare a day for SXSW Sydney 2025? No problem! Our Conference Day Pass lets you pack a full day of learning and inspiration at the ICC from 9am to 5pm. Dive into any of the 100+ daily sessions across 23 tracks, plus catch some of the free evening programming to round out your experience. Or, plan to attend with an Innovation Expo Day Pass ($40) or a single Movie Screening ($25) or any of the Free Program.

As well as answering all the text fields such as descriptions, takeaways and biographies. The form allows for you to add a link to previous speaking engagements and allows you to upload a pitch video in your submissions.

Yes, you can submit multiple sesssions. Please ensure each submission is unique and not on a similar topic as your other submissions. Please ensure that all submissions from you are all from the same Organisation name. ie; if your company has a acronym and a full name, please use your full company name so that we can see all your sessions together during evaluation.

Please choose the most suitable track. Conference producers will let you know if they feel its better suited for a different track when it comes to scheduling.

Submissions will appear randomly on the public voting platform and can be searched and filtered by track and format. Submitting before Public Voting goes live ensures you can maximise visibility by having it platformed on the website for the entire duration of the Public Voting period.

We understand a speaker or panellist may drop out of a session. You will need to manage this with your assigned conference producer, and ensure they have approved the proposed replacement.

If you would like to moderate a session, please submit an idea for a panel with confirmed speakers.

Yes, by default all sessions submitted go to public voting. If you wish your submission to be excluded because it has embargoed or sensitive information, please reach out to sessionselect@sxswsydney.com. Proposals that are submitted after March 17th will be uploaded onto our website each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the duration of Session Select (17-31st March).

Full submissions are preferred and prioritised. If a session looks to need additional speakers to be actioned, producers may reach out during the evaluation period and discuss.

The key elements we are looking for are clarity of concept, relevance to the track, diverse speakers who can talk to the session content. Additional elements that delight us are; unique formats, different approaches to traditional topics and diverse speaker lineups.

All confirmed speakers will receive a complementary pass that gives them access to the full week's program including the conference, expo and festivals. If you are not successful you will still be able to purchase entry to SXSW Sydney at the Early Bird price.

The Session Image we request in your submission will be shown during public voting. If your session is selected it will be uploaded to the app and web schedule. You will have a chance if selected to update or change the image.

Yes. During evaluation we ask that they exclude themselves from evaluating the session they have submitted.

After the evaluation process, the Conference team moves into the curation process which will allow them to identify any gaps in panels or sessions. You may suggest a speaker by emailing sessionselect@sxswsydney.com, however there is no guarantee the person you put forward will be included in any session. In order to have your industry expert considered, they should submit an idea of their own.

No. SXSW Sydney is an independent event and we compile submissions separately to Austin and London.

Expressions of Interest to volunteer with SXSW Sydney 2025 are currently open, please use the following form to be alerted of when the official process will open in the coming months.

Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our community. To ensure that we keep everyone as safe as is reasonably possible, SXSW Sydney will adhere to health regulations and COVID Safety protocols that are in place at the time of the event. These requirements may change based on advice from NSW Health, so please be sure to visit this page for the latest information.

Our ticket provider LUP store the collected images securely and with encryption on Amazon S3. Access to these images is restricted to authorised personnel only, based on their role and the necessity to access such data for verification purposes. We employ industry-standard encryption technologies to protect these images both in transit and at rest, ensuring that they are safeguarded against unauthorised access or disclosure.

There is no Student Discount for SXSW Sydney 2025. Credential pricing has been reduced overall this year, with more options at lower prices including the Conference Day Pass, Expo Day Pass, Single Movie Tickets for every screening and a more extensive Free Program. Students are also invited to apply for a Free Credential through our partner, Social Enterprise Australia. Sign up for event emails to be notified when applications are welcome. Hundreds of free credentials were distributed this way in 2024 to improve accessiblity and ensure a diverse event audience. Volunteering is another way to be part of the event.

There is no Under 25 Discount for SXSW Sydney 2025. Credential pricing has been reduced overall this year, with more options at lower prices including the Conference Day Pass, Expo Day Pass, Single Movie Tickets for every screening and a more extensive Free Program. Emerging leaders under 25 are also invited to apply for a Free Credential through our partner, Social Enterprise Australia. Sign up for event emails to be notified when applications are welcome. Hundreds of free credentials were distributed this way in 2024 to improve accessiblity and ensure a diverse event audience. Volunteering is another way to be part of the event.

There is no Concession Discount for SXSW Sydney 2025. Credential pricing has been reduced overall this year, with more options at lower prices including the Conference Day Pass, Expo Day Pass, Single Movie Tickets for every screening and a more extensive Free Program. Concession Card holders are also invited to apply for a Free Credential through our partner, Social Enterprise Australia. Sign up for event emails to be notified when applications are welcome. Hundreds of free credentials were distributed this way in 2024 to improve accessiblity and ensure a diverse event audience. Volunteering is another way to be part of the event.

Information about our policies regarding refunds and use of credentials can be found here in our terms and conditions. Please make sure to read and understand these before making any purchases.

At SXSW Sydney, we strive to create an inclusive and accessible environment for all participants regardless of age or ability. Our Accessibility Statement can be read here. Credential pricing has been reduced overall this year, with more options at lower prices including the Conference Day Pass, Expo Day Pass, Single Movie Tickets for every screening and a more extensive Free Program. Concession Card holders are also invited to apply for a Free Credential through our partner, Social Enterprise Australia. Sign up for event emails to be notified when applications are welcome. Hundreds of free credentials were distributed this way in 2024 to improve accessiblity and ensure a diverse event audience.

SXSW Sydney acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land where the event will take place. Representation is important to us and with the guidance of local Traditional Custodians, we are working to ensure the event recognises and respectfully upholds inclusive cultural protocols. Our program, which is continuously in development, will offer a diverse range of topics, people, and ideas - particularly alongside First Nations creators, entrepreneurs and beyond. After all, we know when these worlds collide, the most wonderful experiences emerge.

While some content may we live streamed within the event Precinct itself, SXSW Sydney 2025 is a live in person event, and will not be livestreamed for an online audience.

Video footage is captured of some confernece sessions and some of these may be shared after the event through a range of digital and broadcast channels, with permission. The best place to catch up on previous SXSW Sydney 2024 sessions on our YouTube channel.

SXSW has built a world-renowned event across its 30+ year history in Austin, Texas. By combining its globally recognised profile with a focus on creativity and innovation in the Asia Pacific, SXSW Sydney holds a place on the global major events calendar; a must-attend annual combination of conference and festivals for creators and innovators of all backgrounds. SXSW Sydney is delivered in Partnership with the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

SXSW Sydney represents a regional adaptation of the renowned Austin festival, delivering a curated programme that captures the original event's essence while showcasing Sydney's distinct character. As the Asia-Pacific region's premier hub, the event features unique innovations and creative ventures from across the region. This concentrated one-week format ensures a compelling and intensive experience.

SXSW Sydney is held within a walkable footprint in and around Darling Harbour and Broadway. ICC Sydney (International Convention & Exhibition Centre) is home to most of the Conference and the Innovation Expo, with the Music, Games and Screen Festivals, Partner and Free Program held at this venue as well as Tumbalong Park, Darling Park, Haymarket, Ultimo, Chippendale, Broadway and beyond - making the most of a wide range of inspiring spaces including purpose build structures, bars, restaurants, cinemas and more. All form the SXSW Sydney precinct and transform into a vibrant interconnected hub of future-focused ideas, parties and networking opportunities.

South By Southwest® dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW Sydney was held for the first time in October 2023 - a Conference, Expo, Festivals and Free Program. Now, every year Sydney will host a celebration of creativity and culture for changemakers near and far. Next held across 7 days and 6 nights from October 13-19, 2025, each SXSW Sydney combines innovation, music, screen, tech, games and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, SXSW Sydney features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, workshops and a variety of networking opportunities - proving that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together.

The SXSW Sydney website is your first stop for information on the event, including announcements and detailed information on how to access the conference, festivals, and exhibitions. Check out the website footer to sign-up for our newsletters - you'll be the first to know about any important updates about the event. For fresh content and highlights, find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Threads, BlueSky and Linkedin.

The SXSW Sydney Conference covers 23 tracks accross Business & Leadership, Tech & Innovation, Marketing & Media, Culture & Lifestyle, Future & Sustainability, and Creative Industries. Each track has been designed for the SXSW Sydney community to experience the latest in forward-thinking ideas within their industry, and unlock the unexpected discoveries made possible when a diverse range of topics converge on stage. Participants will be announced monthly from March, across a wide variety of formats, from Keynotes, Featured Speakers and Panels to Workshops, Meet Ups, Mentorship Sessions and Live Podcast recordings. In Tech &Innovation: AI & Robotics, Cyber & Your Data, Technology, Health & MedTech. In Business & Leadership: Education & Skills, FinTech & Commerce, People & Work, Start Ups & Investment. In Marketing & Media: Advertising & Marketing, Creator Economy, Media & Journalism. In Future & Sustainability: 2050, Design, Energy & Climate, Transport & Cities, Food & AgTech. In Culture & Lifestyle: Fashion & Beauty, Travel & Leisure, Sports, Culture In Creative Industries: Music Industry, Screen Industry, Games Industry.

SXSW Sydney is made up of a week long, 23 track Conference, a Music Festival, Games Festival, Screen Festival and a Tech & Innovation Festival an Innovation Expo and Free Program. Bringing together inspired thought leaders, creators and innovators from across the world to take part in a wide range of events from 1:1 mentoring and workshops to keynote speakers, interactive panels, networking lounges, film screenings, live music performances, tech demos, and of course - plenty of fun and surprises.