Representatives from more than 100 technology companies are calling on state and federal governments to bring the popular SXSW conference back to Australia and to the nation's future Olympic city.
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The grassroots campaign, called SXSEQ, launched on Tuesday with the backing of executives from a diverse range of companies including EOS Worldwide, The Content Division, STEM Changemakers and Blackroc Recruitment.
The group is calling on the Queensland and federal governments to financially support an Australian return for the cultural event that attracted more than 345,000 people to Sydney in 2025.
Their call comes less than a month after event organisers announced it would not be staged in 2026, and Destination NSW revealed the NSW government had pulled future funding for the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.
Based on an American event, SXSW Sydney was a week-long cultural conference combining movies, music, interactive technology displays, and a series of talks.
Organisers estimated the event generated $276 million over three years, and SXSEQ campaign organiser and PatientNotes co-founder Sarah Moran said moving it to Queensland could deliver a boost to start-ups and established companies.
"Sydney dropped a winning lottery ticket – we're just asking (Queensland Tourism and Innovation) Minister (Andrew) Powell to pick it up."
"SXSW is an export vehicle for both his portfolios, bringing international dollars into Queensland while showcasing our innovation industry to global buyers for export."
Supporting the event would fit within the state government's Destination 2045 commitment to invest $100 million in tourism, Ms Moran said, while bringing attention to the wealth of tech workers that had moved to the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Powell did not comment on the event proposal but said multiple funding initiatives were available to bring tourism events to the state.
"Queensland continues to cement its reputation as Australia's events capital, hosting world-class festivals, sporting spectacles and cultural celebrations year round," he told AAP.
Efforts to boost tourism come as Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, for which the state government has committed $7.1 billion to build and upgrade sporting venues.
Australia's South by Southwest festival, which ran from 2023 to 2025, was the first held outside the US and had been expected to continue in 2026 and 2027.
In a statement, SXSW director Jenny Connelly said organisers were proud of the event they established in Australia.
"Over three years, SXSW Sydney demonstrated the power of convening global innovators, creatives, and leaders, and created a platform that elevated voices from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region onto the world stage," she said.
"While the event will not proceed in 2026, we are grateful for the collaboration, creativity and commitment that defined SXSW Sydney."
Australian Associated Press
