Another one bites the dust: SXSW festival Sydney is cancelled forever, so there go more of your wasted tax dollars…
South by Southwest (SXSW) has confirmed that its Sydney edition will not return in 2026, bringing an end to the three-year run of the high-profile event in Australia (well, a high profile in the US, anyway).
Organisers cited a “changing global environment that is impacting major events, festivals and cultural programs worldwide” as the reason for the cancellation, a decision that also appears to close the door on future Sydney editions. By “changing global environment” we can only assume they mean the stuff-ups caused within global relations due to the greed of the US government run by a madman hellbent on closing off business with all other nations (more increased tariffs, anyone?)
SXSW Sydney debuted in 2023 as the Asia-Pacific extension of the annual festival originally founded in Austin, Texas. The event blends technology, film, music, gaming, and innovation, and was designed to spotlight creative industries across the region.
Last year’s festival proved fairly popular, recording more than 345,000 attendees in 2025 and significant international participation. This year, it seemed there was far less interest.
SXSW Sydney’s organisers — run locally by TEG in partnership with global owners Penske Media Corporation and the NSW Government (Destination NSW) — said prevailing market conditions meant the event could not be sustained. Officials worked to find “potential pathways forward” with partners, but ultimately concluded that the next edition would not proceed.
The NSW Government had entered a contract with SXSW from 2023 to 2027, with reported investment reaching $12 million, and the City of Sydney also contributing both cash and value-in-kind support across the three events. Despite this backing, planned future city funding and non-monetary support had been earmarked for 2026–27 before the cancellation was confirmed.
Keep in mind that is your tax dollars gone to waste.
Instead of notifying media of what will become of the invested money, organisers simply expressed their “gratitude” to sponsors, speakers, volunteers and attendees, acknowledging the festival’s influence on Sydney’s cultural calendar and its role in connecting global creative communities.
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