SXSW Sydney cancelled for 2026
The US-hailing cultural platform's Asia Pacific spin-off has come to an end after three editions due to "prevailing market conditions"
News By James Hanley | 14 January 2026
SXSW Sydney has announced that the Australian edition of conference and showcase festival South by Southwest has been cancelled for 2026.
Organisers say the decision to pull the plug on the US-hailing brand’s Asia Pacific leg – which was most recently held across various Sydney venues in October 2025 – “reflects a changing global environment that is impacting major events, festivals and cultural programmes worldwide”.
They add that despite working closely with the NSW government and SXSW’s global owners, Penske Media Corporation, to…
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