While the Sydney Leather Festival has been cancelled, it’s important to understand what that actually means in practice.

The festival itself was a banner event, a way of bringing together a collection of independently run events under one unified program. With the removal of that banner, the events themselves are not inherently impacted. The majority will continue to operate as planned, although some may adjust their dates, format, or approach as they move forward independently.

We’re encouraged by the swift momentum behind establishing a dedicated Sydney Leather Titles weekend, with surrounding events beginning to form organically. This reflects a more focused and sustainable model, one that aligns with how successful leather and fetish weekends operate globally, with clear purpose, ownership, and community investment.

We encourage everyone to continue looking out for the events that are going ahead and to support the organisers, venues, and community members behind them. The strength of our community has never been defined by a single person, event or festival, but by the many people and connections within it.

Dear Community,

After careful consideration, and in light of a number of cumulative challenges, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Sydney Leather Festival indefinitely.

We know this news will be disappointing, and we are truly sorry for the impact this may have on those who were looking forward to the festival this year. That said, we remain confident that many of the events you know and support will continue largely unaffected.

Since its beginnings as Sydney Leather Weekend, through to Sydney Leather Week, and most recently Sydney Leather Festival, this initiative has always been about creating a platform to showcase and celebrate our community, bringing together events, people, and spaces to build greater visibility, connection, and collaboration.

Over that time, what has become clear is just how strong this community is.

The strength of this community has never sat within a single festival. It lives in all of you, in the events you attend, the spaces you help shape, and the connections you continue to build. That strength continues to grow, and we have every confidence it will carry forward.

While this marks the end of the festival in its current form, we hope it also creates space for new ideas, new leadership, and new opportunities to emerge. This is not a setback, but a moment for renewal, for others to step forward and shape what comes next in ways that continue to elevate our community.

We encourage you to keep showing up, supporting local events and businesses, and continuing to build the connections that make this community what it is. 

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Sydney Leather Festival

Sydney Leather Festival was a multi-day showcase and celebration of the leather, fetish, and kink community in Sydney, Australia.

Our mission is to foster a welcoming environment where attendees can express themselves authentically and freely, learn from one another, and celebrate shared passions. Through workshops, parties, social gatherings, recognitions and performances, we aim to promote community building, understanding and acceptance, making a positive impact on both our community and the wider public.

Our goal is to place Sydney Leather Festival firmly on the global map, a destination event that draws people from across the country and around the world to experience our amazing community, groups, and events. We’re committed to restoring Sydney to its rightful place as a leading destination for leather, fetish, and kink culture.