The festival boasted a range of high-profile international guests including Nicole Kidman and The Kid Laroi.
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Renowned arts, technology and culture festival SXSW Sydney has been cancelled after a three-year run.
Organisers confirmed in a statement today the popular festival, once billed as the “Olympics of events” for creatives, would not return to the NSW capital city this year due to a “changing global environment” impacting major events worldwide.

The organization revealed that despite collaborative efforts with the NSW government and SXSW’s proprietors, Penske Media Corporation, to “explore potential pathways forward,” the event’s cancellation was ultimately due to “prevailing marketing conditions.”

The festival boasted a range of high-profile international guests including Nicole Kidman and The Kid Laroi.
The festival boasted a range of high-profile international guests including Nicole Kidman and The Kid Laroi. (Getty Images for SXSW Sydney)

In recent years, the festival has attracted an impressive lineup of high-profile international figures, such as Nicole Kidman and The Kid Laroi.

Last year, attendance soared to over 345,000, marking a 15 percent rise compared to the previous year’s figures.

This morning, fans expressed their disappointment on social media, lauding the event as “fantastic” and a “highlight” on Sydney’s event calendar.

Arts, technology and culture festival SXSW Sydney has been cancelled after a successful three-year run.
Arts, technology and culture festival SXSW Sydney has been cancelled after a successful three-year run. (SXSW Sydney)

“Every great story has a final page,” the event organizers poignantly remarked on social media.

“It’s bittersweet to be saying goodbye while the momentum is so high.

“We’re walking away knowing that something special happened here.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better community to share this journey with, or a better city to call home.”

Event organisers said they would work closely with staff members to provide appropriate support following the cancellation.

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