21–27 September 2026 · Sydney & across NSW

Australia's largest grassroots startup festival

Our startup ecosystem takes over for a week – shaped by the people in it. And it's absolutely free.

What's coming Host your own event

21–27 September 2026

It's time for our startup ecosystem to step up once again – and this year, it's more important than ever.

Spark Festival is back for our eleventh year – and things are looking quite different this time around.

We're facing into a long period of uncertainty for Australian founders and investors. Government support, certainty over our tax system, R&D tax incentive eligibility and the ongoing legality of AI development in Australia are all hanging in the balance following significant policy announcements, with minimal consideration of the impacts on our ecosystem.

Spark Festival is here to make our community's voices heard, to provide a platform for those who can't pay for access, and to spark engagement across Australia's diverse startup ecosystem.

The program will be released shortly – watch this space!

Get involved Join the mailing list
Four attendees on a Sydney street outside an evening Spark Festival event
A panellist speaking into a microphone alongside three fellow panellists
A seated audience watching a session at a Spark Festival event
Two women in conversation at a Spark Festival networking event
Two attendees talking over drinks at a Spark Festival event
A panel discussion in front of Spark Festival banners, with a seated audience
A roundtable discussion around a long table at a Spark Festival event
The Hon. Jacqui Munro MLC speaking at a Spark Festival event

Host your event

Host your own event

Most of festival week is run by the community. Maybe you've already got an event idea sitting in the back of your mind. Maybe you've never hosted anything before, but festival week feels like the right excuse to try. Either way, there's a place for you to bring it to life at Spark.

Startup life isn't just pitch decks and spreadsheets. If it brings people together, it belongs at Spark.

If you don't have a venue, tell us – we have a limited number of spaces we can offer, though supply is tight.

Submit your idea for an event

You could host

  • Talks and panels – for the ideas and debates worth putting on a stage
  • Workshops – hands-on sessions teaching a real, specific skill
  • Dinners – smaller, conversation-first, no stage required
  • Socials – drinks, no agenda, just the people
  • Pitch nights – for founders ready to put their idea in front of a crowd
  • Roundtables – closed-door, smaller groups tackling one topic in depth
  • Something completely different – a knitting circle, a life-drawing class, a run club

Powered by the community

Spark Festival happens thanks to the people who lean in

Individuals, organisations and institutions give venue, staff, content, ideas and everything in between – and our sponsors keep every event free and open to everyone.