The Top Events To Check Out In Tasmania This Winter

Tassie leans into winter in its own way – with cold swims, long nights and a healthy appreciation for the firepit. Across the state, creativity and the arts are celebrated, science comes to the fore, and thousands of people get their kit off (all in the name of the solstice, of course). 

Shake off any desire you had to stay indoors and enjoy what’s on offer, including everything from intimate culinary experiences and music festivals to exploring private property and exposing, well, everything. Plan your trip around these events and you’ll forget hibernation was ever an option. 

Australian Musical Theatre Festival 

Launceston is filled with song for five days as seasoned performers and emerging artists gather for the Australian Musical Theatre Festival. Performances spill across theatres, pubs, laneways and vineyards, creating a citywide stage.

Highlights include an evening of song and story with one of the industry’s most prominent stars, Delia Hannah. Elsewhere, the Community Gospel Choir – led by vocalists Maria Lurighi and Lorinda May Merrypor – unites locals and professionals in a musical theatre performance. Meanwhile, the Diva Den brings comedy and cabaret together for free sessions. Expect buskers in laneways, choirs in pubs, and a good excuse to dust off those vocal cords. 

When: May 20 to 24, 2026
Where: Various locations in Launceston

Dark Mofo

For two wild weeks, Dark Mofo brings the weird and the wonderful to Hobart and beyond, with performances, art installations, gigs and classic events including the Winter Feast and the annual Nude Solstice Swim. 

The program has been revealed, but there’s still plenty to keep you guessing – including up to 150 secret acts for Night Mass and a featured town still under wraps. Venues are equally unconventional, from a deconsecrated church to one of the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels docked at Dark Park, transformed into a floating gallery.

The music line-up includes Australian exclusives from Princess Nokia and Power Trip, alongside a genre-spanning mix of acts including Danny Brown, Miss Kaninna and Baker Boy.

A festival highlight is always the Ogoh-Ogoh, where 20,000 people make the procession to the Regatta Grounds – backed by drumming and chanting – to witness the burning of the year’s totem, and with it, the fears of festivalgoers. 

The Winter Feast serves up food and drink from more than 75 stallholders.

Elsewhere, details around Dark Mofo remain intentionally hazy, but you can count on boundary-pushing performances, intriguing art immersions and a healthy dose of the unexpected.

When: June 11 to 22, 2026
Where: Various locations in Hobart

Light Up the West 

Tasmania’s west coast comes alive with Light Up the West, centred in Strahan with a program of events across the region. 

Take a night cruise along an ancient river with World Heritage Cruises – drinks and grazing platters included. Challenge yourself with a family-friendly treasure hunt, or head to Hamer’s Bar for a Winter Wonderland afternoon complete with live music, great food and festive drinks. 

There are plenty of opportunities to get outdoors, so rug up and join a guided evening walk to spot glow worms and fluorescent mushrooms. With so much happening, it’s worth booking a stay and settling in.

When: June 19 to 28, 2026
Where: Various locations in Strahan

Bicheno Beams 

For one month, the coastal fishing town of Bicheno lights up for Bicheno Beams – a celebration of light during the darkest weeks of the year. Each evening from 6.30pm, an all-ages show transforms the coastal town with a 15-minute laser spectacle. 

There are two different shows running on alternating nights, so it’s worth staying a little longer to catch both. To make the most of it, rug up and bring a picnic blanket or camping chairs, plus a hot thermos of something comforting (this is an alcohol-free event). 

The event is free and it’s worth keeping an eye on their Facebook page for announcements about double showings and special events throughout the month. 

When: June 27 to July 25, 2026
Where: 78 Burgess Street, Bicheno

Permission To Trespass 

With the wild Bass Strait on one side and some of Tasmania’s most spectacular landscapes and farming country on the other, Permission To Trespass unlocks typically private properties with special access this July.  

Table Cape Lighthouse hosts a stunning sound and light projection, while Table House Farm presents an intimate six-course feast. In Wynyard, Goldie Street transforms into a bustling night market with fire pots and plenty of tasty treats to keep you warm. 

Dive deeper into the region’s First Nations history with a guided tour, tunapri Patuyala (“To understand Boat Harbour Point”). Led by Palawa man Jye Crosswell, the experience explores the natural and cultural wonders of the north-west, alongside a hands-on cultural craft activity. 

You’ll also find shed choirs, paddock Pilates, art and whisky tastings as part of the program. 

When: July 1 to 15, 2026
Where: Various locations in Table Cape

Island Escape Winter Festival 

Launceston’s Inveresk Precinct transforms for the Island Escape Winter Festival, a long-weekend shindig dedicated to live music, art, and food and drink. Curated for all ages, Australian icons Birds of Tokyo, Spiderbait and Hot Dub Time Machine bring the energy across three jam-packed days. 

Stay for a night or the full weekend, with accommodation packages available. Families can explore workshops, storytelling and games, while northern Tasmanian produce takes centre stage across regional feasts. There’s also a chef’s table-style experience, where leading local chefs share seasonal dishes through live demonstrations – an intimate way to experience the island’s produce at its winter peak. 

Wander through art installations or boogie in an igloo silent disco – there’s plenty to explore.

When: July 3 to 5, 2026
Where: 2 Invermay Road, Invermay, Launceston

Festival of Voices 

From beatboxing workshops and AC/DC choir sessions to Meg Washington’s powerful voice filling a former female prison, Australia’s premier singing festival is warming up its vocal cords ahead of July. 

Highlights include singer-songwriter Lior, who joins a string quartet for an intimate performance at the Theatre Royal. Beatboxing royalty Tom Thum will wow audiences at Altar Bar, followed by an hour-long workshop the next day. David Campbell brings swing to a cabaret-style performance at the Federation Concert Hall. 

After something classical? Two inspiring sessions explore Handel’s most thrilling works. Need a little encouragement to belt out a tune? Try Sing ’n’ Sip where you’ll have a drink in one hand and a lyrics sheet in the other. There are also free workshops, open mic sessions and plenty of regional events. 

When: July 3 to 12, 2026
Where: Various locations in Hobart 

Beaker Street Festival 

Fun fact: Hobart has more scientists per capita than any other Australian city. Now in its 10th year, Beaker Street Festival takes science out of the lab and onto the streets. 

Known for its clever fusion of art, science and music, the program spans field trips, late-night bar sessions with roving scientists, thought-provoking talks and debates, saunas, polar plunges and plenty of live music. 

The program will be announced in late May, but we’re already excited to hear that Tasmanian composer Constantine Koukias will collaborate with Dutch sound designer Willem van Erven Dorens to transform dark energy into a live, spatial audio experience. 

When: August 6 to 17, 2026
Where: Various locations in Hobart 

This article is produced in partnership with Tourism Tasmania. For more Off Season 2026 events and travel inspiration, visit Discover Tasmania.