Hobart’s event calendar has been transformed over the past 15 years by MONA’s two seasonal festivals, Dark Mofo and MONA FOMA, which now draw international visitors alongside the city’s long-established traditions like the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the Royal Hobart Regatta. The calendar clusters heavily around summer (December-February) and mid-winter (June), with quieter patches in autumn and spring. Here are the major Hobart events and festivals, with dates, locations, and what to expect. For a complete overview, see our Hobart travel guide.
Winter Events and Festivals in Hobart
Dark Mofo
Dark Mofo is Hobart’s marquee event: a mid-winter festival celebrating the longest nights through art, music, fire, food, and ritual. Running over 12 days in the second and third weeks of June (June 11-22, 2026), the festival is curated by Leigh Carmichael and produced by MONA. Core events include the Winter Feast (an indoor night market at Princes Wharf 1 with open fires, mulled wine, and food from 80+ stalls), the Ogoh-Ogoh parade and burning (a large sculptural puppet burned on the waterfront), large-scale public light installations along the Hobart waterfront, and the Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach, Sandy Bay (roughly 2,000 participants at sunrise on the shortest day). Ticketed music events feature experimental, metal, and electronic acts at venues including the Odeon Theatre, MAC2 at Macquarie Point, and MONA itself. Many installations and performances are free. The Nude Solstice Swim is free but requires registration. Accommodation in Hobart books out 2-3 months ahead for the festival’s two weekends. Temperatures average 5-12°C (41-54°F), so dress warmly and embrace the festival’s unofficial motto: you’ll be cold, but you’ll be fine. Check our Hobart weather by month breakdown for more information.
Festival of Voices
Held across the first two weeks of July, this choral and vocal festival brings together choirs, singers, and vocal groups from across Australia and internationally. The centrepiece is the Big Sing Bonfire at Salamanca Place, where thousands of participants sing in unison around a large fire. Venues include the Hobart Town Hall, Federation Concert Hall, and St David’s Cathedral. Tickets for headline concerts range AUD 30-60; many workshops and the bonfire event are free. Check our best time to visit Hobart guide for more information.
Summer Events and Festivals in Hobart
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Finish
The Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is one of the world’s three classic offshore yacht races, alongside the Fastnet and the Newport-Bermuda. The 628-nautical-mile race starts in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day (December 26) and the first boats arrive at Constitution Dock in Hobart from approximately December 28, with the majority finishing by December 30. The maxi yachts (super maxis like Andoo Comanche and LawConnect) typically arrive first after roughly 1 day 9 hours of racing. Constitution Dock becomes a festival zone: you can walk the docks to see the race boats up close, watch the finish line from vantage points along the Derwent, and follow the tracker on the official app. The City of Hobart hosts live music and food stalls at the Taste of Summer festival at the same time. Free to spectate. Book accommodation 6+ months ahead if you want waterfront views. Check our things to do in Hobart guide for more information.
Taste of Summer
Formerly known as the Taste of Tasmania, this food and wine festival runs from December 27 to January 3 at Princes Wharf 1 and the surrounding waterfront. Approximately 70 stalls showcase Tasmanian wine, whisky, gin, cider, seafood, cheese, and produce. Entry is free; food and drinks cost AUD 8-22 per item. The festival operates 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. It coincides with the Sydney to Hobart arrivals, creating a combined waterfront event zone that draws roughly 200,000 visitors across the 8 days. Bring a jacket for evenings, even in summer. Check our Hobart neighborhoods overview for more information.
MONA FOMA (MOFO)
MONA’s summer festival, curated by Brian Ritchie, runs over 9 days in mid-January (January 15-24 in recent years). Unlike Dark Mofo’s dark aesthetic, MOFO leans colourful, eclectic, and experimental, with a focus on music across genres. Events take place at MONA itself, MAC2 at Macquarie Point, and various venues around Hobart. Past acts include Nick Cave, The Flaming Lips, and PJ Harvey alongside emerging and avant-garde artists. Tickets for headline shows range AUD 50-120. The MONA ferry runs extended hours during the festival. Some free events and installations are scattered through the city. Check our where to stay in Hobart guide for more information.
Australian Wooden Boat Festival
Held biennially in early February (next: February 2027) over 4 days, this is the largest wooden boat festival in the Southern Hemisphere. More than 500 vessels from tall ships to kayaks fill Constitution Dock and Sullivan’s Cove. The program includes boatbuilding demonstrations, maritime skills workshops, sailing trips on the Derwent (AUD 10-30), and a parade of sail. Free entry. The 2025 edition drew over 200,000 visitors across 4 days. The next festival is February 12-15, 2027. Check our Hobart travel tips and FAQ for more information.
Autumn and Spring Events
Hobart International (Tennis)
A WTA 250 women’s professional tennis tournament held in the second week of January at the Domain Tennis Centre (2 Davies Avenue, Queens Domain), serving as a lead-up tournament to the Australian Open. The intimate 2,800-seat venue with views over the Derwent makes it one of the more scenic stops on the tour. Finals weekend tickets run AUD 45-65; early-round tickets start at AUD 25. The 2025 champion was McCartney Kessler (USA).
Royal Hobart Regatta
Held on the second Monday of February (a public holiday in southern Tasmania only), the Royal Hobart Regatta dates to 1838 and is Australia’s oldest continuing sporting event. It features sailing races, rowing competitions, jet ski displays, amusement rides, and fireworks over the Derwent River at the Regatta Grounds on the Queens Domain. Free entry with paid rides and food. The event is family-oriented and lacks the tourist infrastructure of other festivals, but it’s a genuine local tradition.
