South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney has announced the line-up for its inaugural event outside of North America this October.
A core part of the event is the SXSW Sydney Conference, which will take place in multiple venues including ICC Sydney, UTS, The Powerhouse Museum and more.
The Conference will feature over 400 keynotes, presentations, panels, workshops, and mentor sessions, with Amy Webb, futurist, author and CEO of strategy firm Future Today Institute, the first keynote speaker.
ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy said the venue was looking forward to welcoming the inaugural Asia Pacific edition of SXSW.
“The ICC Sydney team is looking forward to delivering this special, future-focused event. Beyond providing an extraordinary experience for the diversity of SXSW Sydney visitors,” he said.
“We welcome the opportunity to collaborate on delivering a positive legacy for years to come, from the economic benefit across our dynamic city to environmental sustainability solutions and facilitating connections into our local community, every focal area of our corporate social responsibility strategy will be brought to the fore through SXSW Sydney.”
The inaugural SXSW Sydney program is split across several content pillars including the SXSW Sydney Music Festival, SXSW Sydney Screen Festival and SXSW Sydney Games Festival, which will be held across multiple venues in the city.
“SXSW Sydney will be a complete game-changer for Sydney and the Asia Pacific,” said Geoff Jones, chair of SXSW Sydney.
“Locally, it will increase visitation and bolster the creative economy. Within APAC, it will facilitate a special connection between creative industries and businesses in the region – the kind that can lead to collaboration and innovation on a global scale. I can’t wait to see the opportunities flow on from October this year.”
Minister for Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin said SXSW will be a huge drawcard for Sydney.
“Sydney is the economic and leisure gateway to Australia and is a leader in creative and tech innovation, with a global reputation for hosting major international events that capture the world’s attention,” he said.
“This world-class event will be a significant drawcard for Sydney, attracting 27,000 visitors and injecting $24 million into the NSW economy.”
SXSW Sydney will take place on October 15-22, 2023.
