Hayu FanFest Sydney showcases the power of reality TV fandom in Australia – Hayu has staged its first FanFest event in Australia, bringing thousands of reality TV fans to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion for a sold-out celebration of the genre.
The event gives Hayu a clear local showcase for its reality-first streaming strategy. It also underlines how strongly Australian audiences connect with franchises such as The Real Housewives, Below Deck Down Under and Southern Charm.
Also, Hayu said FanFest Sydney was the largest dedicated reality TV fan event staged in Australia. VIP tickets sold out within 10 minutes, while thousands of fans attended the pink-carpet event on Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Reality Stars Head To Sydney
The Sydney event featured eight international reality TV stars. The lineup included Cynthia Bailey from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Meredith Marks from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Juliet Mayhew from The Real Housewives of London, Dorinda Medley from The Real Housewives of New York City and Ultimate Girls Trip, and Alexia Nepola from The Real Housewives of Miami.
In addition, Captain Jason Chambers from Below Deck Down Under joined the event, alongside Southern Charm stars Craig Conover and Shep Rose.
Hayu ambassador Dean McCarthy hosted the event. Meanwhile, Sharyn Casey, Tim Collins, Gen Fricker and Justin Hill supported the local hosting lineup across panels, interviews and on-the-ground coverage.
Panels, Music And A World First
Fans took part in panel sessions, talent meet-and-greets, interactive activations and social-first content moments. Meredith Marks and Dorinda Medley also delivered DJ sets during the event.
During the Sydney event, Hayu unveiled the first look at The Real Housewives of London Season Two. The new season launches exclusively on Hayu on 7 September.
The three-minute teaser features returning Housewives Juliet Angus, Amanda Cronin, Karen Loderick-Peace, Juliet Mayhew, Panthea Parker and Nessie Welschinger.
TikTok Partnership Extends The Event
Hayu partnered with TikTok for the Sydney FanFest. The partnership used a dedicated #HayuFanFest hub and live pink-carpet streaming to extend the event beyond the Hordern Pavilion.
The creator lineup included Abbie Chatfield, Jarrah O’Connell, Mitch Greer, Matt Hey, Nic Salerno and Lauren Hannaford. It also included Simone Holtznagel, Anthony Voulgaris, Jeremy Franco, Tom B Rich, Carlyz TikTok and Katrina West.
Hendrik McDermott, Managing Director, International Direct-to-Consumer, NBCUniversal, said the sold-out Australian FanFest showed the strength of Hayu’s fanbase and the role of reality TV fandom in the streamer’s growth.
Finally, Hayu says fans who could not attend, or who want to relive the event, will soon be able to stream the action on Hayu.
For more Hayu stories, visit TV Central’s Hayu section. Hayu is available in Australia at hayu.com/au.
