Hobart events 2026
Hobart's calendar peaks twice. Midwinter belongs to Dark Mofo (11–22 June 2026), MONA's festival of art, light and fire; and late December brings the Sydney to Hobart finish and the Taste of Summer food festival to the waterfront. Add the Royal Hobart Regatta and a year-round Saturday market, and there's always something on. Here's what to plan around in 2026.
Dark Mofo · 11–22 June 2026
Dark Mofo is Hobart's defining event — a MONA-run festival that turns the longest nights of the year into a red-lit spectacle of installations, music, the Winter Feast, and the daredevil nude solstice swim. It transforms the whole city and draws visitors from across the country, so book accommodation and tickets early. It's the single best reason to brave a Hobart winter. See the wider Tasmania events guide.
Sydney to Hobart & Taste of Summer
Late December is Hobart's other great moment. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race sets off from Sydney on Boxing Day (26 December) and its leading maxis sweep into Constitution Dock soon after, right as the Taste of Summer food festival (27 December 2026 – 3 January 2027) fills the waterfront with Tasmanian produce, wine and music. It's festive, sunny and busy — the classic Hobart summer. See our best time to visit guide.
Regatta, boats & the market
Beyond the headliners, February brings the historic Royal Hobart Regatta on the Derwent, and the biennial Australian Wooden Boat Festival returns to the waterfront in February 2027. Note that Mona Foma, MONA's former summer festival, has now concluded. Year-round, the Saturday Salamanca Market is a fixture. Whenever you come, we can build your trip around what's on. See our things to do.
Hobart events 2026: your questions
Dark Mofo — Hobart's acclaimed midwinter festival of art, light, music, food and fire — runs 11–22 June 2026. Presented by MONA, it fills the darkest nights of the year with red-lit installations, the Winter Feast, late-night gigs and the famous nude solstice swim. It's Hobart's biggest event and books out fast, so plan accommodation early. See the wider Tasmania events guide.
The headline act is Dark Mofo (11–22 June). Around New Year the waterfront hosts the Sydney to Hobart yacht-race finish and the Taste of Summer food festival (27 December 2026 – 3 January 2027). February brings the Royal Hobart Regatta, and the biennial Australian Wooden Boat Festival returns to the waterfront in February 2027. Add the year-round Saturday Salamanca Market. See our things to do.
No — Mona Foma, MONA's summer music-and-arts festival that ran from 2009, has concluded. MONA's festival focus is now firmly on the midwinter Dark Mofo (11–22 June 2026). If you'd planned a trip around Mona Foma, we'd suggest timing your visit for Dark Mofo instead, or for the summer buzz around the Sydney to Hobart and Taste of Summer. See the Tasmania events guide.
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race starts in Sydney on Boxing Day, 26 December 2026, and the leading maxis reach Constitution Dock within a day or so, so the waterfront is at its festive best over the New Year period. It overlaps with the Taste of Summer food festival, making late December a wonderful — and busy — time in Hobart. Book accommodation well ahead. See our best time to visit guide.
Yes — for the big ones, absolutely. Dark Mofo (June) and the New Year period (Sydney to Hobart and Taste of Summer) fill Hobart's hotels months in advance and push up prices, so lock in accommodation and any event tickets early. We can build your trip around a festival and handle the bookings and logistics. See our Hobart tours.