South by Southwest (SXSW) will bring its futurist conference and festival outside of North America for the first time to Sydney in October 2023.
The festival has also now opened PanelPicker, a two-step online process that was developed as a way to encourage community input and involvement in the programming of the conference.
Members of the community can sign up to the user-generated session proposal platform for SXSW and SXSW EDU and enter session ideas and grade each proposal during Community Voting.
A significant percentage in determining the content lineup will also be informed by the festival staff and Advisory Boards.
The entry process open for SXSW and SXSW EDU panels are both open from June 28 to July 24, with community voting from August 9 to August 21.
The Australian branch of the festival will be held from Sunday, October 15 to Sunday, October 22, 2023.
See also: SXSW heads to in Sydney in first expansion outside North America
Secured by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, the Sydney festival will gather thinkers, creators, and innovators for an exploration of the best in music, screen, gaming, technology and innovation, with keynotes and panel sessions to be revealed soon.
SXSW Sydney will become the official annual Asia-Pacific instalment of SXSW, which launched in 1987 in Austin, Texas and has included speakers and artists such as Barack Obama, Jordan Peele, Dave Grohl, Michelle Obama, Taika Waititi, Brené Brown, Steven Spielberg, Mark Cuban, Lady Gaga, Christiane Amanpour, Esther Perel, Jennifer Doudna, Prince, Michelle Yeoh, Ava DuVernay, Maria Ressa, Amy Webb, Billie Eilish, Melinda Gates, Elizabeth Warren, and Snoop Dogg.
SXSW Sydney will launch after the festival is held in Austin in March 2023.
Geoff Jones, CEO of TEG, event producer for SXSW Sydney says: “Put simply, SXSW is the Olympics of events for the creator industries, and we are thrilled to bring this legendary festival of gaming, music, screen, tech and innovation to Sydney in 2023. I want to thank the NSW Government and Destination NSW for their support. I would also like to thank Thea Jeans-Cochrane and Tony Cochrane from Cochrane Entertainment for their vital support and determination in bringing SXSW to Sydney.”
Stuart Ayres MP, Minister for enterprise, investment and trade, minister for tourism and sport and minister for Western Sydney says: “Sydney is the economic and leisure gateway to Australia and a leader in tech innovation, with a global reputation for hosting major international events that capture the world’s attention. 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. It will put a spotlight on Sydney as the major events and creative industries capital of the Asia-Pacific, as well as being its premier business and lifestyle destination.”
Colin Daniels, Managing Director of SXSW Sydney says: “SXSW Sydney will showcase the largest group of inspiring international thinkers, creators, innovators and performers ever seen in Sydney at one time. Focusing on the creator industries in the Asia-Pacific region, SXSW Sydney will celebrate what’s next in culture, tech and the regions thriving creative economy. Sydney will play host to more than 1,000 experiences across the city encompassing keynote speakers, inspiring panels and summits, product demonstrations, artists performances, screenings, live gaming sessions and a myriad of networking events and parties. Sydney will be alive with future focused activities like never seen before.”
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Top image: speakers from the festival in Austin this year