Catch Over 200 Free Talks, Events, Gigs, Activities and More – for Free – at SXSW Sydney Unlocked

SXSW Sydney is a hot ticket. Now in its third year, this annual convergence of ideas, tech, music, screen and games invites you to explore bold creativity and future-shaping innovation. But if you haven’t snagged a pass to this year’s conference or SXSW Sydney’s dedicated Music, Games and Screen Festivals yet, SXSW Sydney Unlocked lets you enjoy an extensive program that’s entirely free and open to all, with over 200 events and 85 hours of programming on offer.

From October 13 to 19, SXSW Sydney Unlocked will take over Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, as well as other locations like the Seymour Centre, Kensington Street and ICC Sydney. It’s a chance to fill your lunch breaks with a dose of exciting culture and fascinating talks; chill out after work and into the evening with live music by both established and emerging acts; and spend the weekend with the family exploring both the interactive Games Showcase and Innovation Expo.

Need help navigating the jam-packed seven-day program? Here are our top picks for SXSW Sydney Unlocked.

From live music to line dancing

If you can’t make it to SXSW Sydney’s Music Festival, on Saturday October 18, a mini-festival curated by The Rubens called Hoops & Everything will mark the 10-year anniversary of the band’s chart-topping album Hoops. There’ll be live music from the alt-rockers themselves, as well as Whitney, Folk Bitch Trio, Velvet Trip and Mariae Cassandra. Earlier in the week, on Wednesday October 15, check out the International Stage featuring hip-dut pioneers Tenxi, Jemsii & Naykilla in their first ever performance in Australia; Filipino singer-songwriter Angela Ken; beloved Chinese Tencent singer Tia Ray; and rising J-Pop boy band Psychic Fever.

On Thursday October 16, SXSW Sydney Unlocked spotlights First Nations creatives. The program, curated in partnership with Winda Film Festival and Awesome Black, features live music and a showcase of short films from the trailblazing minds of emerging First Nations filmmakers.

Across Thursday October 16 and Friday October 17, Seymour Nights will light up the Seymour Centre. Across both nights, from 7pm to 10pm, enjoy live music from emerging Australian musicians in the atmospheric open-air setting of the Seymour Centre courtyard.

Then, put on your best cowboy hat and boots for Tumbalong Honky Tonk on Friday October 17 from 5pm. Led by Saddle Club Sydney, this is your chance to learn how to line dance to live music by Australian country singer-songwriter Max Jackson, Canadian country group The Washboard Union, viral teen sensation Lewis Love and golden-rock duo Big Wheels.

Exclusive brand experiences

Scattered throughout Tumbalong Park, brand activations will offer exclusive experiences ranging from immersive VR to stimulating panel talks. Get insights from Australian forward-thinkers in business and culture through panels at The Ideas Dome, presented by The Growth Distillery, and conversations presented by Dept at the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

L’Oreal is offering multi-sensory beauty experiences at its Innovation Station; KPMG will present its Futuresphere, exploring how AI and smart systems are reshaping the human experience; the Johnnie Walker Bar will be serving up the new Black Ruby Blackberry & Soda; and exclusive SXSW Sydney 2025 event merch by American Apparel will be available for purchase.

Innovation Expo and Games Showcase

On Saturday October 18, SXSW Sydney’s anticipated Innovation Expo and Games Showcase will be open to the public for the first time. At the Innovation Expo, check out the XR+ Showcase, which gives visitors a taste of multi-sensory experiences that strive for immersion beyond VR. The Discovery Stage spotlights visionary creatives and trailblazers in AI, art, music, design, fashion, sustainability, and more – they’ll share some of the groundbreaking ideas shaping the future today, while Student Pitch showcases 10 tertiary student finalists presenting their bold visions for “what’s next” in just three minutes each.

Over at the Games Showcase, visitors will have the chance to try out over 100 new titles from indie developers, meet the developers behind the games, and play everything from card games and tabletop board games to videogames and VR games.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with SXSW Sydney. SXSW Sydney Unlocked is your pass to the best free experiences across SXSW Sydney – from interactive exhibitions and pop-ups to live music, talks and night-time events.