SXSW Sydney 2025
Darling Harbour, Sydney
to
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Starts daily
10:00
Monday - Saturday end time 24:00
Sunday end time 17:00
Important Travel Advice
South by South West (SXSW) returns to the Sydney CBD with various conference, music and expo events taking take place across multiple venues, including ICC Sydney, ICC Sydney Theatre and Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour. For the full event schedule visit the SXSW website.
Attendees are encouraged to plan their trip and consider all the available travel options ahead of time.
Train and metro service run regularly to Central where you can change for L1 Inner West light rail services leaving from the Grand Concourse to Convention or Exhibition Centre stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues. Allow extra travel time as services may be busy, particularly during the weeknight evening peaks.
Remember, you'll need to use an Opal card or contactless payment card/device. Register your details online at Opal or via the app ahead of time.
Parking is available at the Exhibition Centre, entry on Darling Drive. Alternatively, the closest vehicle drop-off point is on Zollner Circuit off Darling Drive. Traffic may be heavier than usual so allow extra travel time. You can find real-time traffic conditions at livetraffic.com.
Opal
You can use an Opal card for all modes of public transport in Sydney and surrounding regions, including metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail.
Remember to top up your Opal card before you travel to avoid waiting in line at top-up machines. You can top up your card online or at an Opal retailer.
More ways to pay
If you have a contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal card readers. Available on all public transport, contactless payments are another way to pay on the Opal network. Adult Opal fare pricing applies and you will receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.
Volunteers
SXSW volunteers can travel for free on Sydney Trains, Metro, Buses, Ferries and Light Rail services. Show your travel free pass to transport staff when boarding services
Sydney Metro services are high-frequency, driverless trains running between Sydney’s north-west and south-west via the city.
The M1 Line operates turn up-and-go Metro services in both directions between Tallawong, Chatswood and Sydenham.
Change at Central to connect with L1 Inner West light rail services towards Darling Harbour stops at Convention or Exhibition Centre.
Trackwork will be taking place throughout the event. For Metro service disruption information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.
The best station for connections to the International Convention Centre and nearby venues in Darling Harbour are Central and Town Hall stations,
From Central, catch an L1 Inner West light rail service leaving from Grand Concourse to the Exhibition Centre or Convention stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues.
Alternatively, you can walk from either Central or Town Hall stations in around 10 to 15 minutes.
Trackwork
Trackwork is taking place throughout the event from Monday 13 to Sunday 19 October that may affect how you travel.
Plan ahead using the Trip Planner.
Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. Trackwork may affect how you travel to and from events. For the latest information, check travel alerts and trackwork or use the Trip Planner.
Bus routes 389 from Bondi Junction and 501 from West Ryde stop at Harris Street near Allen Street in Pyrmont. The ICC Sydney is about a 750m walk from the stop location.
Buses also run regularly to QVB, Town Hall and Central to get you within walking distance of Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour.
For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.
Catch a ferry to Circular Quay where you can change for a train to Central to continue your journey to the ICC.
Alternatively, catch a ferry to Pyrmont Bay – from there you can walk to Tumbalong Park or the ICC Sydney, or you can connect with light rail services to Exhibition Centre or Convention to get within closer walking distance.
Early morning and late night ferries are limited so plan ahead and consider alternative transport options available, including trains, buses and light rail.
For ferry service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.
L1 Dulwich Hill Line
L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services run between Central Station (Grand Concourse) and Dulwich Hill via Darling Harbour and the Inner West. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.
Catch light rail services to Convention or Exhibition Centre stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues.
L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines
L2 Randwick light rail services run between Circular Quay and Randwick via Central Station (Chalmers Street) and L3 Kingsford line services run between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily, plan your trip using the Trip Planner.
Change at Central Chalmers Street for L1 light rail services leaving from Central Grand Concourse to Convention or Exhibition Centre stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues. You can also consider walking to the venue from Central which will take approximately 20 minutes.
L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line
L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line light rail services run between Carlingford and Westmead via Parramatta CBD. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.
Alight at Parramatta Square and connect with a train service to Central from Parramatta Station
From Central change for L1 Light rail services leaving from Central Grand Concourse to Convention or Exhibition Centre stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues.
Passengers are reminded that trams can’t stop quickly or easily – so please stop, listen and look around for trams and use designated pedestrian crossings
For maps and service frequencies see light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.
Traffic may be heavier than usual through the Sydney CBD and Pyrmont before and after each event, particularly in peak travel times. If you're planning to drive, travel with your group and allow extra travel time.
For the latest traffic information visit Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app.
The best taxi and rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations include Iron Wharf Place and Zollner Circuit, both accessed via Darling Drive.
For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit Transport Operators.
ICC Sydney has two 24-hour car parking stations with a total of 826 parking spaces, including 12 accessible parking bays, 25 motorcycle parking spaces, 50 bicycle racks and 25 electric car charge spaces.
The two car parks are located within the Exhibition Centre (Car Park 1) and ICC Sydney Theatre (Car Park 2).
Additionally, there are secure car parks located in and around Darling Harbour, including Wilson Harbourside Car Park and First Parking Darling Square Car Park.
Visit Getting to ICC Sydney for more details.
Accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. You can select "accessible services only" in the Options to ensure you only see accessible services. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. See accessible travel or download a transport app (select the "Accessibility" filter).