Festivals and events in Tasmania

Tasmanians love a party, with sparkling waters as the backdrop to summer celebrations and bonfires warming up winter festivals.

In fact, year-round, there’s a festival or event happening somewhere in the state – and you’re invited.

Summer

As long days and balmy nights lure revellers outdoors, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race surges home in late December at Sullivans Cove.

Sailors and travellers of all sorts are welcome at Tasmania's Taste of Summer (28 December–3 January), a week-long food and wine festival in Hobart, crammed with entertainment including New Year’s fireworks. Launceston Beerfest (31 December) brings merrymakers together in the north for more NYE festivities.

Tennis fans can get their fill at the Hobart International (6–11 January 2025), with views of the Hobart waterfront framing the annual series of professional matches. On the east coast, athletes splash through the turquoise waters of Freycinet National Park at Coles Bay Triathlon (8 February 2025), under the striking backdrop of the Hazards mountain range.

Up north, Launceston’s own Festivale (31 January–2 February 2025) is a three-day summer showcase of Tasmanian food and drink with live music for all ages. Let loose to the bold sounds of Aurora, Amyl and the Sniffers and more top music acts at Party in the Paddock (6-9 February 2025). While every second February, Hobart’s waterfront is the scene of more maritime celebrations at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival (7–10 February 2025).

And join summer events across the island, including the Cygnet Folk Festival (10–12 January 2025), the Tasmanian Wine Festival (8-9 February), Clarence Jazz Festival (19–23 February 2025) and the penny farthing championships at Evandale Village Fair (15 February 2025). 

Autumn

The island erupts in leafy colour as the days get shorter and cooler, and the air crisper. Celebrate the harvest (and art, and life) at ECHO Festival (14–16 March 2025) in the east-coast wine country near Swansea.

Fresh produce from the region’s volcanic soils and windswept seas shines at Sheffield’s Taste of the North West (March). Also in Sheffield, quirky engineering heritage chugs back to life at SteamFest (March).

More deliciousness flows at Southern Open Vineyards (28 February-2 March) – a self-guided journey across the south’s finest wine regions. For a full-blown foodie affair, sample the seasonal flavours of Tasmania’s Tasting Trail at TrailGraze (April).

Runners traverse the rugged trails of kunanyi / Mount Wellington at kunanyi Mountain Run (28–30 March 2025), and dash past the famous southern waterfront at Hobart Airport Marathon Festival (6 April 2025).

Tasmania’s thriving agricultural scene draws a big crowd in the north at Agfest (1–3 May 2025). Speaking of agriculture, check out giant pumpkins, wood chopping and Blundstone boot-toss competitions at the Bream Creek Show (15 March 2025) – a quintessential country event.

Be captivated by a diverse, toe-tapping program or take a masterclass with an industry professional at the Australian Musical Theatre Festival in Launceston (May).

And join the pilgrimage to see the “turning of the fagus”, when Australia’s only winter-deciduous tree blankets alpine hillsides with autumnal colour (late April and May).

Winter

Tasmania in winter is anything but chill. The Off Season is winter for real, a time to gather around blazing log fires, to frolic in frosty alpine landscapes and plunge into festivals.

Dark Mofo (June) stirs up the wild winter energy in Hobart each year, with signature events including the tantalising Winter Feast, where friends and family gather to eat fiery fare; and the Nude Solstice Swim, a bracing bare-naked dash into the River Derwent at sunrise.

Also in June, Permission to Trespass (1–30 June) is a curious collision of art, culture and storytelling set within typically restricted patches of the state’s north west (not to be missed is the Table Cape Sound Walk).

The Festival of Voices (27 June–6 July 2025) erupts in song with workshops, concerts and singalongs.

More July celebrations include the dazzling Bicheno Beams (28 June–19 July 2025) on Tasmania’s east coast, and Devonport Jazz, which lights up the north west with smooth live music, entertaining improv performances and cosy vibes.

The good times roll into August – Bridport’s Tassie Scallop Fiesta celebrates the north east region’s fishing and maritime heritage and the start of the scallop season. Back in Hobart, Beaker Street Festival (12–19 August 2025) is all about science and art, offering scientist-led talks and workshops, thematic cruises and tours, live music, and installations. Also in Hobart, and at various distilleries around the island, Tasmanian Whisky Week celebrates the island’s golden spirit and its distillers. And at the north west’s annual Chocolate Winterfest, dessert is the main event.

Round out the frosty winter fun at the biennial Australian Antarctic Festival (August 2026) – a nod to Hobart’s position as a key gateway to the icy continent.

SPRING

This is the season of blooming gardens, sunny days, picnic hampers and good vibes. Bring something warm to wear just in case – and join a Tasmanian spring fling.

See fields of intense colour at Table Cape Tulip Farm on the state’s north-west coast (late September, for a month). To coincide, the local council runs the Tulip Festival Wynyard (11 October), with food, music, art and vibrant entertainment.

Just as colourful but of human making, Launceston’s Junction Arts Festival (25–28 September) is about extraordinary arts events in unusual places. Also in September, Great Eastern Wine Week (September) is a collective of over 40 events, celebrating the cool-climate drops and boutique wineries of the East Coast Wine Region.

On Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula, Nubeena Bee Festival (4 October) celebrates our champion pollinators and their sweet honey.

Artists gather in Sheffield’s Mural Park to compete in the annual Mural Fest (November), with the artworks remaining on display for the following year – worth a look regardless of when you visit. And unique contemporary art thrives in the most unordinary of places at the Unconformity – an inventive, biennial festival on the rugged west coast (16–19 October).

Looking for a festival to satisfy your niche interests? The Tasmanian Craft Fair (31 October–2 November), the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival (November) and Effervescence Tasmania Sparkling Wine Festival (November) have got you covered.