Ten awesome things to do at SXSW Sydney 2025

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Annual festival South by Southwest Sydney is set to return for its third year, bringing with it a blitz of creativity and innovation across the city.

This year’s festival has not only the usual strands across tech, music, film and gaming but has also made the event even more accessible to all with a program of free events at SXSW Sydney Unlocked.

At its heart SXSW Sydney is all about fresh ideas, so here are our top 10 picks for the best ways to expand your mind at the fest.

Hollywood director and SXSW Sydney keynote speaker Paul Feig.

Keynote Speakers
ICC Sydney, October 13-16

SXSW has lined up some big names this year to share the secrets to their success. American comedy director, Paul Feig, who helmed hits including Bridesmaids and A Simple Favour, is speaking for the screen program. The music keynote speaker, fresh from his performance at the NRL grand final, is Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter Teddy Swims, who had a big hit with Lose Control, in conversation about his rapid rise to fame.

Mo Gawdat, former chief business officer at Google X, will share his take on technology and how he believes AI can help humanity. And the keynote speaker for the gaming strand is Brennan Lee Mulligan, creator and host of Dungeons & Dragons actual play show Dimension 20.

SXSW Sydney Conference
Various locations, October 13-17

There’s a banquet of food for thought at the conference with more than 1000 speakers sharing their perspectives. Some of the high-profile names who will be in attendance are cricket legend Steve Waugh talking with space experts about Australia’s place in the space race; leadership expert, author and Herald columnist Kirstin Ferguson discussing how to improve decision-making; GoFundMe chief executive Tim Cadogan speaking on crisis and charity; Beyoncé’s former digital strategist Marcus Collins on the intersection of cultural movements and music; and Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen and venture capitalist Bill Tai chatting together about the future of tech.

Robyn King, head of social impact, Canva.

The Impact Stage
ICC Sydney, October 15-17

There’s also a new stage popping up this year at the conference, with the Impact Stage focusing on the evolution of philanthropy and how to improve society. On the line-up to speak are Save the Children Australia chief executive Mat Tinkler, Medecins Sans Frontieres head of programs Simon Eccleshall, and Canva’s head of social impact Robyn King. The sessions scheduled will look at what is the future of giving, where climate advocacy is heading and the public health challenge of loneliness.

This year’s most-nominated artist at the ARIAs, Ninajirachi, will be performing as part of SXSW Sydney.

Music Festival
Chippendale and surrounds, October 14-18

More than 150 artists are programmed to showcase their sounds with an emphasis on emerging talent, also known as the perfect chance to say “I saw them before they got big”. One of the hottest tickets will be electronic artist Ninajirachi, who is this year’s most-nominated artist at the ARIA Awards for her debut album I Love My Computer. Other acts worth checking out include Maple’s Pet Dinosaur, a 15-year-old Newcastle artist who went viral with the single Lego; garage punk band Last Quokka; dance-floor-filler Touch Sensitive; singer-songwriter Gordi; the noughties nostalgia of 2charm; and the Australian debut of Irish chart-topping pop-rock outfit Picture This.

Deliver Me from Nowhere, which will premiere as part of SXSW Sydney.

Screen Festival
Various locations, October 13-19

For film buffs SXSW Sydney has secured some must-see flicks. It’s the Australian premiere for opening-night movie Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which stars The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White as iconic American rocker Bruce Springsteen as he makes his 1982 album Nebraska. Attendees can also catch several other Aussie premieres, with Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest Bugonia, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons; Jennifer Lawrence in a bravura performance opposite Robert Pattinson in psychological drama Die, My Love; Canadian cult comedy Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie; and horror sequel Black Phone 2.

Games Festival
ICC Sydney, October 15-18

Controllers at the ready for an opening-night happy hour presented by Melbourne-based game developer Beethoven & Dinosaur kicking off the gaming strand. The games showcase will be the country’s biggest look at independent games, with hands-on demos of more than 120 titles available to check out, plus it’s free to attend on October 18. There’s also a special showcase of tabletop gaming for those who like to go old-school.

Tech and Innovation Festival
ICC Sydney, October 15-18

Many come to SXSW Sydney to get the lowdown on what’s next for technology, with AI continuing to be a particularly crucial topic. Highlights include the two-day tech and innovation showcase featuring projects at the pre-commercial stage SXSW Sydney Pitch, where start-ups will explain their visionary concepts on stage to a panel of experts; and Hackathon, where the best and brightest will come together to brainstorm ideas.

Innovation Expo
ICC Sydney, October 15-18

Within the tech strand at SXSW Sydney is the Innovation Expo, where start-ups and businesses unveil their most exciting wares and the latest advancements for attendees to see up close. The expo is also where attendees can hear talks at the Discovery Stage, or step into the Startup Village to speak directly to the minds behind boundary-pushing businesses. And, for the first time, there will be free entry to the expo on its final day for anyone keen to check it out.

SXSW Sydney Unlocked
Various locations, October 13-19

For those on a budget, SXSW Sydney Unlocked is offering up more than 200 free events, with all welcome to come along. Tumbalong Park will be the venue for most of the action, with highlights including a honky-tonk night with tunes from Max Jackson and The Washboard Union, and an evening of global pop with J-pop band Psychic Fever, Filipino singer-songwriter Angela Ken, and Blak to the Future, a celebration of First Nations creatives with musical performances and screenings of short films. There will also be free gigs at dusk on October 16 and 17 at the Seymour Centre courtyard.

The Rubens have created an all-ages mini-festival.

Hoops and Everything
Tumbalong Park, Oct 18

Worth its own special mention from the SXSW Sydney Unlocked schedule is the free all-ages mini-festival curated by Aussie alt-rock band The Rubens in honour of the 10-year anniversary of their hit single and album Hoops. The group will perform at the bash but they’ve also chosen some special guests to join them. Hear American indie-rock band Whitney, the beautiful harmonies and honest words of Folk Bitch Trio, Triple J Unearthed High-winning singer-songwriter Mariae Cassandra and the psychedelic imaginings of Velvet Trip.

SXSW Sydney runs from October 13-19.

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