Reality reigns: Hayu drops Sydney FanFest

Hayu is hinting at cast from some of its most iconic franchises.

Hayu is bringing its global reality fandom celebration to Australia, confirming that Hayu FanFest will arrive in Sydney on 15 August 2026 as part of the platform’s tenth anniversary year in the market.

The event promises an all-in, in-person experience for reality diehards and casual fans alike, with the streamer preparing to roll out live panels, cast interviews, immersive brand activations, meet-and-greets and exclusive merchandise.

Talent announcements are set for early 2026, with Hayu hinting at cast from some of its most iconic franchises.

A decade of Australian superfans

Over the past ten years, Hayu has built a sizable Australian audience and a loyal community that consistently pushes its shows into the broader pop-culture conversation.

The streamer says FanFest will give brands a rare chance to reach this highly engaged group, offering bespoke sponsorship opportunities and access to exclusive 7Bravo media packages.

“Marking our tenth anniversary year at this unmissable immersive event is the ideal way to celebrate our fans,” said Hendrik McDermott, MD, Hayu, EMEA Networks and International Direct-To-Consumer, NBCUniversal.

“When London’s 2024 Hayu FanFest sold out in mere minutes, we knew it was only a matter of time before we would deliver the ultimate fan experience to our loyal subscribers Down Under. We are excited to undertake this must-attend event for reality fans in alignment with 7Bravo, NBCUniversal’s free-to-air channel in the market.”

A global reality TV powerhouse

Launched in the UK, Ireland and Australia in 2016, Hayu will mark its tenth year in 2026 having expanded into 42 other markets.

The service now hosts more than 10,000 episodes and over 350 reality series, ad-free, with new seasons dropping the same day as the US.

Its catalogue spans some of the genre’s biggest franchises, helping cement the streamer as a destination for unscripted entertainment and a driver of fandom both on-platform and across social.

Hayu will reveal more information on location, ticketing, talent and the full event agenda in the coming months. Fans can register for updates here.

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