How to plan your Dark Mofo experience

Dark Mofo doesn't ease you in. It grabs you, and all of Hobart, by the collar every June.

Bathed in red. Filled with music, art and fire. Shaking with throngs of people marking the winter solstice (21 June) in the most Tasmanian way possible.

If you're going, Artistic Director Chris Twite has some advice: be brave.

The must-experience events, according to Chris

Dark Mofo 2026 (11–22 June) celebrates Australia’s shortest days of the year here in Tasmania.

For first-timers, Chris points to sizzling staples like Night Mass (12–13, 19–20 June): a labyrinth of music and unexpected installations turning a mystery city precinct into a rabbit warren of indulgence and intrigue.

"It's our sprawling late-night party that takes over many nooks and crannies and features hundreds of artists,” Chris says. “It's always incredible and you never know what to expect."

If you’re seeking after-dark antics with a decent bedtime (yep, winter here gets dark real early), the free and family-friendly Dark Park (11–14, 18–21 June) and city-wide art program showcase pioneering and provocative global artists across Hobart’s Regatta Grounds and architectural spaces. Expect hypnotic lights, strange sounds and other sensory surprises.

Sandwiched between Hobart’s inky waterfront and retro Salamanca precinct at Princes Wharf 1 is another unmissable mainstay: Dark Mofo Winter Feast (11–14, 18–21 June). Here you’ll find 75+ seasonal Tasmanian food and drink stalls and crackling fires to huddle around. This year, international guest chef Floriano Pellegrino serves lemon foam encased in an uncanny mould of his wife’s lips. You’re going to have to get a bit freaky and lick the lifelike lips to tase the foam within.

As Chris notes, "it's going to be an interesting one”.

Join the festival’s bold finale at sunrise on 22 June: the Nude Solstice Swim returns, welcoming 3000 participants and their bare, goose-bumped bums. It’s a rite of passage plunging into Hobart’s River Derwent and waking up the Sandy Bay neighbourhood with some choice swearwords.

That moment of anticipation, really feeling that electric energy amongst the people. It's really special.

And it wouldn’t be Dark Mofo without the Ogoh-Ogoh parade (21 June). Cast your deepest fears into a large painted effigy and watch it crackle and burn to dust. Very cathartic.

Been to Dark Mofo before? Then you’ll know each winter festival brings something different.

“That’s the brilliant part about Dark Mofo, there’s always some new experience to find,” Chris says.

This year's art and performance program is as bold as ever, including (for starters):

When to visit and what to book first

First thing’s first: book your Hobart accommodation. This small city can fill up months in advance.

Once your bed’s sorted, turn to Dark Mofo tickets. The full program has landed: subscribe for pre-sale access to get a head start on general sale.

"There are always events that sell out really fast, and also a lot of events that are free,” Chris says. “To make sure you're in amongst the madness of Night Mass, you want to get on that super quickly."

Next, work through the music program and headliners. You’ll need to register in the ballot to secure your spot in the free Nude Solstice Swim. But not everything requires a ticket.

“All of the artworks all across the whole city, they're all free,” Chris says. “So you can wander through the streets of Hobart unplanned and figure it out while you're on the ground."

Give yourself time – Chris’s advice is a few days minimum. Plus it doesn’t hurt to see the rest of Tasmania on a winter road trip.

Where to stay and how to navigate Hobart

Wondering where to stay in Hobart? Chris's take is reassuringly simple.

"The great thing about Hobart is it's such a walkable city, so wherever you find yourself, you'll be close enough to the action,” he says.

That said, staying near Salamanca, Hobart’s waterfront or the CBD puts you within easy reach of Dark Mofo venues, Salamanca Market and Hobart's dining and bar scene. Other suburbs close by include Battery Point, North Hobart, South Hobart, Glebe and West Hobart.

Browse Hobart accommodation, from sauna retreats to city stays.

For late nights, swap foot travel for rideshare and taxis. Chris's friends tend to mix the structured with the wandered: dinner at the Winter Feast one night, then Hobart's bars and restaurants the next.

And of course, book Hobart’s Mona Roma ferry for your pilgrimage to Mona to breathe in some new artworks by Julian Charriere, dance to some underground music at the Sex + Death Day Club and witness the return of Ryoji Ikeda’s light beam spectra.

What to wear and practical tips for winter in Hobart

A visible shift takes hold when Dark Mofo draws near.

Large crimson crosses pop up around the waterfront and red lights glow in windows.

"You start to see a few more people on the street,” Chris says. “There’s an energy that pervades the whole city."

Hobart in June is pretty crisp: average temperatures range from 3–14°C. The key is layers. A warm coat, umbrella or waterproof layer, hat, gloves and comfy shoes will see you through Dark Mofo events. Read our what to pack for winter guide and Tasmania in winter wrap for the full rundown.

When it comes to staying warm, Chris is characteristically unfazed.

I'll say this: there's always a fire somewhere, so if you're worried about the cold, it'll be fine.

Red and black winter clothing matches the festival’s aesthetic, but it’s not essential.

"Of course, it's Dark Mofo. You’re not showing up shabby,” Chris says.

And a tip from the pros: charge your phone before heading out. Batteries drain faster in cold weather.

Planning your days

The Dark Mofo schedule rewards a solid plan, but some things you can’t book, like the time Chris was bundled into a Ute and had an egg cracked on his head during Night Mass.

"I don't know really what happened there, but it was incredible."

Your Dark Mofo itinerary for three days in Hobart might look something like this:

“Dark Mofo is an incredible stepping stone to explore more of Tasmania,” Chris adds.

He recommends heading north to Launceston, where you’ll find Dark Mofo acts like Baker Boy and Folk Bitch Trio. Or seek a dose of post-Mofo Mother Nature among Tasmania's salty east-coast beaches, north-west countryside and west-coast rainforests. Or hunt down more winter events and festivals across Tasmania. Chris is all about embracing the contrast, “sitting in silence and quietude, and revelling in chaos and cacophony”.

And if you take one piece of Dark Mofo wisdom with you, Chris puts it best.

"Be brave, open that door, go into that room, look at that thing. You never know what you might find."