Sydney is set to host a renowned tech and culture festival on its first jaunt out of North America.
South By South West (SXSW) will come to the NSW capital in October next year with thousands of music, technology, art and gaming events.
Billing it as an “event for creative discovery”, the organisers promise “the convergence of innovation, music, screen, tech, gaming and culture”.
SXSW is known for its headline music appearances like Dolly Parton, Billie Eilish, and Lizzo.
It also features “culture-defining sessions” with conversations from influential figures in the past like Barack Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The festival began in Austin, Texas, in 1987 and is pegged as the “global destination for creative people to connect, collaborate and achieve their goals”.
The festival will take place at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.
It is expected to cost $150 million however the cost on the state government is not clear.
Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said Sydney was the “ideal choice” for the futuristic festival.
“SXSW Sydney is the biggest event to come to Australia since Vivid,” Ayres said.
“SXSW Sydney will provide significant benefits for the NSW visitor economy, with unparalleled networking opportunities to advance our tech and creative industries.
“The very best of the creative and tech industries in the Asia Pacific will be on display during SXSW Sydney, while also drawing thousands of people from around the world to enjoy our spectacular Harbour City.”
The event producer for SXSW Sydney Geoff Jones called it the “Olympics of events” for creatives.
“The city will come alive with over 1000 experiences including keynote speakers, inspiring panels and summits, live gaming sessions, screenings, product demonstrations, artists performances and countless opportunities to network at parties and dedicated events,” he said.
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