Australia’s only pure-play creative festival returns to Sydney this August.
From 12–14 August, This Way Up is back, and once again AWARD is rallying the sharpest minds in the business for three days of bold ideas, unfiltered opinions and world-class creative thinking.
It all kicks off Tuesday 12 August at ACO On The Pier, Walsh Bay, where global creative agitator Nils Leonard takes the mic, followed by The Work Behind the Work — a deep dive into the most awarded Australian campaigns of the year. Expect punchy insights and big provocations as the ideas keep flowing over lunch, accompanied by a killer view.
On Day 2, Cannes Download hits the big screen at Hoyts EQ, presented by Val Morgan. It’s a curated blast of the most celebrated work from Cannes 2025, followed by an expert panel that pulls apart the thinking behind the wins. No fluff, just the good stuff.
And on Day 3? We get dressed up and celebrate the best of the best at the 46th AWARD Awards Ceremony at Doltone House Darling Island, Pyrmont. Recognition, revelry, and the region’s most outstanding creative work in one night.
Three unmissable events, one driving principle: Where creativity comes first … second and third.
Speaker Sessions
**Nils Leonard will now appear live from London
DETAILS
Date: Tuesday August 12, 8:30am – 3pm
Location: ACO On The Pier, Walsh Bay
Nils Leonard
Founder at Uncommon Creative Studio
International keynote live from London
Jessie Hughes
Senior Creative Technologist, Leonardo.Ai
Local keynote
LIONS presents
Creative Impact Unpacked
Ed Pank, SVP LIONS APAC
Speaker Session
Networking Lunch
SPEAKER PASS
Members: $315 (ex. GST)
Non-Members: $420 (ex. GST)
Speaker pass includes all events on the day.
Tickets managed by ACO partner site.
Events
Presented by Val Morgan
APAC's most prestigious creative awards
Latest News
Bear Meets Eagle On Fire named Individual Agency of the Year DDB named Agency Network of the Year FINCH named Production Company of the Year The winners of the 46th annual AWARD Awards were announced tonight as part of This Way Up, AWARD’s annual creative [...]
Mathilda Grinling from New South Wales has been named AWARD School’s national top student for 2025. The announcement was made at the 46th AWARD Awards held at This Way Up on Thursday night, which celebrates the year’s best creative work and brightest new talent. Mathilda [...]
AWARD has today announced the addition of Jessie Hughes, Senior Creative Technologist at Leonardo.Ai, to the lineup for This Way Up - taking place in Sydney next Tuesday. One of generative media’s most sought-after minds, Hughes is an internationally recognised new media artist and scholar [...]
