When SXSW Sydney first launched in 2023, it set out to create something ambitious – a festival that blended innovation, creativity, and conversation across tech, music, screen, and culture.
Two years on, it’s hit its stride. As the third edition kicks off today, Head of Conference Fenella Kernebone says the event has grown in confidence, quality, and community.
Hitting its rhythm
“When you reach that third year, after doing it the first and second time, you just know what you’re doing a whole lot more,” Kernebone told Mediaweek. “People are also far more familiar with what the content is and what it looks like.”
The result? A sharper, more dynamic program that spans everything from AI and entrepreneurship to music, media, and the future of tourism.
“It’s not just me, but my team, the professionals, and the experts speaking on stage. Those who have submitted their ideas through Session Select have lifted the bar, the quality is just incredible,” Kernebone said.
This year’s line-up includes over 1,200 sessions across the week-long conference and festival, with keynote speakers, mentor sessions, live performances, and immersive experiences designed to fuel ideas and connections.
“The topics are spot on, covering everything we need to know right now, from the impact of AI on businesses across every industry, to people and work, music, and even the future of tourism. It perfectly reflects what this event is all about,” Kernebone added.
A space for fresh ideas and new voices
For Kernebone, what makes SXSW Sydney special isn’t just its scale, but its diversity of voices. “For a conference like this – and many other great events where smart people share ideas on stage – what really stands out is the opportunity to hear voices you don’t usually get to hear,” she said.
“This year, we’ve got startups and entrepreneurs, science leaders, and even quantum pioneers here in Australia. There are also people from the marketing and advertising industries who are deeply tapped into what’s happening globally – and, like everyone else, are passionate about politics too.”
She says this mix of established experts and emerging talent creates the magic that defines SXSW Sydney.
“We’ve got artists, musicians, screen industry professionals, educators, teachers, designers, and architects – all bringing different perspectives to the table. They might be tackling very different topics, but what unites them is that we’re finally hearing from voices that don’t always get the spotlight.”
Connecting culture, creativity and curiosity
After years in television, radio, and journalism, Kernebone says the event speaks to her lifelong curiosity about culture and ideas.
“There’s so much to learn, and that’s why I’m feeling really energised, to be honest,” she said. “For me, it’s about maintaining our connection to culture, to ideas, and to the thinkers shaping today’s conversations.”
She says her team keeps close tabs on global trends to ensure SXSW Sydney remains relevant and responsive.
“Anyone I know in radio, print, digital publishing, or content creation is trying to make sense of what our world looks like now and what it’s going to mean for us – not just this year, but tomorrow, next year, and beyond,” she said.
“We’re constantly asking: who are the voices we need on our stages to explore that?”
And, she admits, those conversations can get lively.
“We’re always debating what’s next, and I’ve always said I’ll keep a few spots open in the big rooms because I know there will always be those timely, of-the-moment topics that come in late but absolutely need to be part of the program.”
A festival that belongs to the city
With the 2024 program spanning venues across Sydney, including Darling Harbour, Haymarket, and Ultimo, the event is once again turning the city into a creative hub for ideas and collaboration.
From the Tech & Innovation Expo to the Music Festival, Screen Festival, and Games Festival, this year’s edition continues to blur the lines between industries and disciplines.
Kernebone says that evolution is part of what makes SXSW Sydney so special. “I don’t have to explain what it is anymore,” she said with a smile. “Now, people are saying, ‘I really want to come. I want to be part of it.’ Because it’s just so much fun.”