The sold-out event featured stars from the “Real Housewives,” “Below Deck Down Under” and “Southern Charm” franchises, while a TikTok partnership carried the festivities to international audiences.

Hayu brought its reality television universe offscreen and into Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Saturday, assembling eight international unscripted stars and thousands of fans for the streaming service’s first Australian FanFest.

The sold-out gathering, billed by the NBCUniversal-owned platform as the largest dedicated reality TV fan event staged in Australia, featured appearances from stars of the Real Housewives, Below Deck and Southern Charm franchises. VIP passes sold out within 10 minutes, according to the company.

The Sydney event followed Hayu’s inaugural FanFest in London in 2024 and arrived as the reality-focused subscription streaming service marks its 10th year in Australia.

The talent lineup included Cynthia Bailey of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Meredith Marks of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Juliet Mayhew of The Real Housewives of London, Dorinda Medley of The Real Housewives of New York City and Ultimate Girls Trip, and Alexia Nepola of The Real Housewives of Miami.

They were joined by Below Deck Down Under’s Captain Jason Chambers and Southern Charm personalities Craig Conover and Shep Rose.

The event combined live panels and fan meet-and-greets with branded installations, DJ performances and social media content opportunities. Marks and Medley also took to the decks for headline DJ sets.

“Today, NBCUniversal’s reality streamer Hayu achieved a major milestone for reality TV fans in Australia,” said Hendrik McDermott, managing director of international direct-to-consumer at NBCUniversal. He described the turnout as evidence of the “strength of Hayu’s passionate fanbase.”

McDermott said the event formed part of a broader effort to build engagement around Hayu’s programming beyond conventional streaming. Panels recorded in Sydney will subsequently be made available on the platform for subscribers who were unable to attend.

Hayu also partnered with TikTok to extend the event beyond the Hordern Pavilion. Twenty-six content creators posted from FanFest, while a dedicated #HayuFanFest hub and livestream from the event’s pink carpet offered international viewers real-time access to the festivities.

The partnership reflects the increasingly close relationship between unscripted television and social platforms, where clips, commentary and cast interactions can sustain audience interest between episodes and seasons.

Hayu ambassador Dean McCarthy hosted the event, with a local presenting team that included New Zealand media personality and podcaster Sharyn Casey; comedian and content creator Tim Collins; comedian, writer and broadcaster Gen Fricker; and entertainment reporter and podcast host Justin Hill.

Launched in 2016, Hayu specializes in reality and unscripted programming, offering franchises from NBCUniversal’s extensive catalog to viewers in international markets. The Sydney FanFest represents the company’s latest attempt to translate that programming into live experiences built around direct interaction between personalities and their audiences.

All panels and highlights from Hayu FanFest Sydney are expected to become available to stream on Hayu at a later date.