Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival
- 5 to 21 November 2026
- Parramatta
- 8 events
2026
The very first grassroots festival of creativity and innovation with AI for Parramatta's multicultural communities: learn, build, create and celebrate together. Bringing our community, youth, working professionals, families, not-for-profits, SMEs, founders and industry, into the AI era with confidence and positivity, one event at a time.
Explore the program5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Opening Night
Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival opens. Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP officially opens the festival, AI industry leaders and Parramatta's community leaders take the stage, and the Build with AI Innovation Challenge launches.
- Jacks Cucina, Parramatta Leagues Club
- Free
Speakers and guests
Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP
Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy
Federal Member for Parramatta
Melanie Silva
Vice President and Managing Director, Google Australia and New Zealand
Cr Cameron MacLean
Lord Mayor of the City of Parramatta
Cr Dr Hayley French
Councillor, City of Parramatta
Cr Michael Ng
Councillor, City of Parramatta
James Sankar
Smart City and Innovation Manager, City of Parramatta
Adam Leto
CEO, Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue
Lailei Huang
Founder and Chairperson, WSTI
More VIPs to be announced
Build with AI Innovation Challenge
Take on a Parramatta city challenge or bring your own idea, build it with AI, and pitch for the prize pool. Open to anyone studying, working or living in or around Parramatta, solo or as a team. To be officially recognised, register on the portal and follow the timeline.*
* Instructions will be sent by email to ticketed participants.
Choose how you will take part
Every ticket goes into the prize pool.
See tickets in the festival programThe route
Opening Night
The challenge goes live. Post your idea and find your team.
or
Choose your option
Option 1 at PHIVE with Google, Option 2 at Western Sydney Startup Hub with WSTI. Come to one or both, or take Option 3 and build online.
Finalise your teams
The portal closes for team formation.
Final submission
Last chance to update your pitch video, demo video and live prototype link.
Finalists announced
Finalists hear by email.
Pitch Night
Finalists take the stage and pitch live. A jury panel decides the winners.
Grand Festival Day
All finalists get a podium to feature their innovation to the panel, industry and community.
Proudly supported by
WSTI Festi's supporting organisations:
- Investment NSW
- City of Parramatta
- Office of Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP
- Office of Donna Davis MP
- Western Sydney Startup Hub
- Parramatta Leagues Club
- Awqaf Australia
- Parramatta Business Connect
List of events during WSTI Festi
Festival program
From 5:30 PM
Build with AI Innovation Challenge Online
Take part online from anywhere in and around Parramatta. Build with AI, solo or in a team, and pitch for the prize pool.
- Online
- Free
10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Build with AI Innovation Challenge Day x Google
Build at Maker Space PHIVE with Google. Brett Morgan from Google leads the hands-on Antigravity training. No coding background needed, and lunch is included.
- Maker Space, PHIVE, Parramatta Square
- A$15
Register for Event Event completed
5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
SME AI Forum
Can AI help your business grow? Local business owners share how AI agents run part of their business, then the WSTI team shows AI agents doing real work, live. No tech background needed.
- Western Sydney Startup Hub, North Parramatta
- Free
Register for Event Event completed
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
AI for Not-for-Profits and Community
Watch a local not-for-profit show the AI tool its team built with WSTI, live on stage. Then work out the first step for your own organisation. No tech background needed.
- Western Sydney Startup Hub, North Parramatta
- Free
Register for Event Event completed
10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Build with AI Innovation Challenge Day
Build at Western Sydney Startup Hub with WSTI mentors, on a Parramatta Possibilities challenge or your own idea. No coding background needed, and lunch is included.
- Western Sydney Startup Hub, North Parramatta
- A$15
Register for Event Event completed
4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Parenting and Teaching in the AI Era
Parents and educators, hear how local families use AI well and keep children safe online, in a discussion led by Dr Andrew Charlton MP.
- Carlingford West Public School, Carlingford
Register for Event Event completed
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Pitch Night
Watch Western Sydney's boldest AI ideas take the stage: pitches, connections and the momentum that helps great ideas scale.
- Western Sydney Startup Hub, North Parramatta
Register for Event Event completed
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Grand Festival Day
The big finale of WSTI Festi. See what Western Sydney is building with AI and try it yourself. Challenge finalists demo their builds in the Innovation Showcase, and AI for Everyone offers friendly first steps. Drop in any time.
Everyone is welcome. No tech background needed.
- Western Sydney Startup Hub, North Parramatta
- Free
Our previous festival
Western Sydney AI Innovation Summit & Hackathon
More from WSTI
What people say about working with us
- Nitta Boontanapibul: “I'm grateful to be part of this hackathon, meet new and familiar faces, and spend a day learning, building, and creating together.”
- Amritha Thillai Villalan: “I joined the hackathon feeling unsure of myself as I wasn't very confident in AI. But the WSTI team's warm support quickly put me at ease.”
- Cherry Flores Tomenio: “Building AI projects with WSTI brought meaningful connections & new friends. It's so fun building with brilliant, passionate minds!”
- Chinna Babu Kanchetti: “A vibrant convergence of passionate minds, united by the drive to turn ideas into reality.”
- Francis Stalin: “Taking part in the WSTI Hackathon was a great experience that pushed us to build fast, learn quickly, and turn ideas into something real.”
- Jacqui Griffin: “The whole experience was a lot of fun, and being around like minded people was very inspiring, want to do it again!”
- Shivani Dhar: “Not only was the event well organized, the environment was fun, collaborative and inclusive, which made the experience even better.”
- Tommy Dam: “It was truly an inspiring event where the right team turned impossible ideas into reality.”
- Vignesh Polur Maniyan: “In this journey along with many cross domain experts, gave me a good experience to use multiple AI tools with a steep learning curve.”