SXSW is an annual international conference that combines music, film, television, technology, gaming, and more! Industry professionals and people interested in the industries can meet up to find out about the works of their contemporaries, showcase their recent projects, give and listen to speeches, attend and host workshops, and much more.
2024 marks the second year the conference has been held in Sydney, so it’s exciting to think how much the events will grow in the coming years as the festival finds its footing among the Aussie crowd.
Access passes to the events can be quite pricey, so thankfully SXSW also offers a solid lineup of free events for the general public to enjoy.
Here’s what you can expect to find in the free portion of SXSW 2024.
How Much Are SXSW Tickets?
SXSW is an expansive conference. In 2024, there will be over 1,000 sessions, events and experiences across 4 festivals over 7 days. Because of this, admission is quite expensive!
By the time this article is published, 3 waves of advance entry sales with discounts will have already passed.
If you want to get in on the paid action, you only have one opportunity left: the Final Price tickets.
There are several tiers of tickets that grant you access to different types of events. As of writing this article, the final prices have not been announced, so all prices are estimates. Sales end on 20/10 so be sure to snag your tickets now if you want to attend a paid event!
Here is a basic breakdown of the different types of entries you can purchase for SXSW Sydney (prices are in AUD). For those aged 25 or under, you can get a 40% discount on the festival-specific badges!
| Entry Type | Price | Grants Access To... |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum Badge | $2,000 | Main Conference Tech & Innovation Expo Primary access to Games, Music & Screen Festivals Exclusive Opening Party Exclusive Co-Working Space Exclusive Lounge Xpress Passes |
| Tech & Innovation or Screen or Games or Music Badge | $1300 each | Primary access to respective festival Secondary access to the other three festivals Main Conference Networking and Meet-ups |
| Screen or Games or Music Wristband | $140 each | Secondary access to respective festival Access to Tech & Innovation Expo |
| Expo Pass Ticket | $40 | Tech & Innovation Expo for One Day of Your Choice (Wed-Sat) |
| Screen Rush Ticket | $25 | One Screening of Your Choice (Wed-Sat) |
SXSW Sydney 2024 will take place from 14-20 October (Monday to Sunday) 2024 at the International Convention Centre and nearby areas like Tumbalong Park, Darling Park, Haymarket, Ultimo and Chippendale. The free events will be held at Tumbalong Park during the week.
How Do I Get Free Tickets to SXSW Sydney?
No tickets are required to attend the SXSW Sydney free events! Members of the public (as well as paid attendees, should they desire) can visit Tumbalong Park to see a variety of free events all throughout the week.
The free portion of SXSW is called SXSW Sydney’s 2024 Public Program.
SXSW Sydney Schedule of Free Events
There will be free events every day of the entire week for members of the public to attend and enjoy.
Free attendees can expect showcases in the four major areas (Music, Screen, Tech & Innovation, and Games) as well as cultural events.
Here are the major free events that can be found at Tumbalong Park at the Main Stage and ‘The Dome’ presented by The Growth Distillery during the SXSW conference.
The full schedule of events has yet to be released as of the writing of this article. Last year, a more comprehensive schedule was published at the end of September, so check the SXSW website as the event date approaches to find out more details!
Thursday 17 October - “Innovation Showcase”
At The Dome, Rocketry, Robotics, Engineering, Mechanics, Science and Technology will be highlighted as modern advancements these areas will be showcased.
Also taking place is the ZERO Australian 100% electric bike showcase, featuring prototype ZERO SR/X.
Saturday 19 October - Free Screen, Music & Games Programming
Witness the Australian Premiere of The Endless Summer 60th Anniversary sponsored by Papa Salt. Afterwards, BALTHVS & Touch Sensitive will play music for a live afterparty.
Attendees can also catch ‘Bush Shorts,’ a showcase of short films selected by the Winda Film Festival created by First Nations and Indigenous filmmakers.
Acer Predator League Academy will crown their first champion as two of the best high schools in Australia and New Zealand compete in a Fortnite competition - the first of its kind! The trophy will be presented by Team PWR and the famous Fortnite icons Lachlan and Loserfruit.
There will be live musical performances by many bands and solo artists.
Sunday 20 October - “+91Calling!”
In this special one-day showcase, six acts from India and the Indian diaspora will perform music in a variety of genres, including hip-hop, pop, R&B, club and neo-classical.
The musicians are an exciting line-up of artists from India and the Indian Diaspora.
- KR$NA is a rapper from Delhi known within the Desi Hip Hop community for his lyricism. He began rapping as a tween when he was attending school abroad in London. His 2010 music video, "Kaisa Mera Desh," was the very first Indian hip hop song on YouTube and overnight it earned the rank as #2 most-watched music video in India.
- Mali from Mumbai began learning music (among other cultural activities) from a young age. In 2010, she formed a group called Bass-In Bridge with a few other musicians as the main vocalist. The band has gained some critical acclaim performing at various venues. Mali has also earned a reputation as a solo artist with her melancholic, emotional lyrics and singing.
- Kavya, full name Kavya Trehan, has been performing music since age 14 when she started her first band. The Delhi native is also a dancer, a film actress, and a model. Her off-beat stylings in her acting, singing, and dress don't fit in with the mainstream, making her somewhat of an unknown artist even though she has a big personality as a human and as an artist. Her sound ahs been described as a mix of R&B, indie pop and electronic music, experimental, lo fi.
- Yung Raja, a Tamil-Singaporean rapper, started gaining traction as a musical artist when he was featured in an episode of the Malaysia hip hop web-series, 16 Baris, in 2018. Over the years, he has become known as a talented bilingual (trilingual, if you count Tanglish) artist with a flair for fashion and positivity. In a VOGUE interview, he said “I also aim to spread good energy and vibes, to be able to build an inclusive community here that is beyond just music.”
- Renao was born in Bangalore but moved to the UK for university to study music production. He's a modern artist, having first garnered attention on TikTok for his airy pop music, self-described as "Frank Ocean meets Harry Styles." Beyond his catchy music, his story is relatable to many who find themselves caught between two worlds.
- Manara, a UK-based DJ spinning underground club tunes with a Desi twist is well-known for her artistic and interesting mixes featuring deep cuts of club, pop, garage, and Bollywood. Her sets aim to bring out the most fun, uplifting, exciting energy possible; everyone should dance! She caught the public's attention especially because of her Boiler Room: South Hall performance, where she started her set one-handed, the other carrying all her personal items, making her work seem effortless.
Throughout the Week - Dates and Times TBD
Ben Gilles (Silverchair co-founder), Johannes Saam (Futurist), and Tushar Apte (producer and songwriter) will give a live demonstration about the creative process behind creating recorded music.
‘Meet the Speaker’ sessions will be held throughout the week at The Dome, giving attendees the chance to meet with Conference speakers, such as astrophysicist, Kirsten Banks. Other events at The Dome will include a variety of talks, meet & greets, book signings, demonstrations, surprise performances, and more!
Various brands will give interactive speeches meant to provide value to the audience. For example, CommBank is prepared to provide challenges to test whether you can recognise a monetary fraud or scam.
Other brands with interactive opportunities include Zeekr, an EV company that will have a test drive zone featuring their vehicles, live radio show recordings with ARN, and Intuit Mailchimp will have an activity called ‘Email is Dead.’
Accor Hotels will feature an ALL.com lobby complete with its own itinerary of events for attendees to explore, like a mini expo!
Furthermore, a pop-up Japanese bar called Suntory Minus 196 will be returning, much to the delight of attendees. The innovative, creative bar is located inside an enormous vending machine!
There will also be an interesting restaurant component with Brand USA taking over Pumphouse Sydney for the week, showcasing the best of food, wine, cocktails, and live music from the States. Along these same lines, Amazon Prime Video will take over Fratelli Fresh and DEPT (global digital agency) will take over the Chinese Garden of Friendship.
What Free Events Happened at SXSW Sydney 2023?
To speculate more about what other currently-unannounced events there could be at Tumbalong Park, let’s review what some of last year’s main free events were!
‘Advanced Navigation - Cloud Ground Control’ allowed participants to move full-sized rovers around a track in Perth using drone technology.
The JMC Academy Tech Showcase highlighted acts of kindness and the people who reacted to them amongst the crowd, inspiring joy and love among viewers.
Live Music Performances included Isyana Sarasvati, GAC, Hindia, Nadin Amizah, Owen, Marv, Yuji, Ardhito Pramono, Feby Putri, Pop Shuvit, Soegi Bornean, Hujan, Adhitia Sofyan. The artists represented talent from across the Middle East and Asia.
Additionally, Young Henry’s hosted a Rock & Roll Circus and JMC Academy students got to perform on stage.
The ‘Meet the Speaker’ series featured the likes of Adam Spencer and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, and Chef Martin Yan and Yiying Lu.
The Games portion consisted of a casual esports meetup where gamers could sample demos of new games, play against each other with their favourite games, and even challenge the pros!
Brand Activations included Snapchat, Uber, Seven Network, Commbank, DEPT, and the fan-favourite Suntory Minus 196 bar.
Whether you plan to only attend the free events or take a trip inside the Conference, you are sure to find something interesting and informative waiting for you at this year’s SXSW!
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