SXSW Sydney Ends After 2025 Over Funding Loss

Sydney, Australia (AP) -- Organizers of SXSW Sydney announced Tuesday that the annual festival combining music, film, technology, gaming, and innovation will not return in 2026, ending its three-year run in the city after a decision by the New South Wales government to withdraw support.

The event, launched in 2023 as the first international edition of the long-running Austin, Texas-based SXSW conference, had been scheduled to continue through 2027 under a five-year agreement. Destination NSW, the state's tourism and events agency, confirmed it agreed not to proceed following a review of the 2025 edition. Officials described the assessment as a standard evaluation applied to major state events, though no specific performance issues were publicly detailed.

In a joint statement, SXSW Sydney co-managing directors Simon Cahill and Jono Whyman expressed gratitude to partners and participants. "SXSW Sydney would not have been possible without our partners, Destination NSW and SXSW, as well as those who contributed to the event: our speakers, sponsors, volunteers and attendees," they said. "It was an unforgettable three-year journey, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the people who...