What is Dark Mofo?
Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, Australia's island state, sits at the foot of kunanyi/Mount Wellington on the edge of the Southern Ocean. In June, at the start of the southern winter, the days are short and the nights cold. Dark Mofo embraces the darkness. For about two weeks around the winter solstice, the city hosts a festival of art, music, food, fire and light that has become one of the most talked-about events in Australia.
The festival was created in 2013 by MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, the provocative private museum founded by David Walsh, together with its creative team. It has a reputation for being bold and sometimes controversial, with challenging art, late-night performances and rituals inspired by ancient winter traditions. After a scaled-down edition in 2024, the festival returned in full in 2025 with renewed state support.
Its signature events have become winter rituals for Hobart. The Winter Feast fills a waterfront venue with food stalls, fires and music over several nights. The Ogoh-Ogoh, inspired by a Balinese tradition, invites people to write their fears on a giant effigy, which is paraded through the city and burned. Night Mass takes over buildings in the centre with late-night music, art and performances. And light art, including the searchlight beams of Ryoji Ikeda's spectra, cuts through the night sky.
The festival ends with the Nude Solstice Swim, in which thousands of people run naked into the icy waters of the Derwent River at dawn on the winter solstice, about 3,000 in 2026, a ritual of rebirth for the new season.
What to expect
The festival runs for about two weeks in June, with events mostly in the evening and at night, ending around the solstice.
Evenings
Winter Feast
The Winter Feast serves food and drink by open fires on the waterfront, with music and performances, on several nights of the festival.
Nights
Art and Night Mass
Exhibitions, installations and concerts run across the city, and Night Mass fills venues with music and art until the early hours.
Around June 21
Ogoh-Ogoh and the swim
The Ogoh-Ogoh effigy is burned, and at dawn on the solstice, swimmers plunge into the Derwent River for the Nude Solstice Swim.
The spectra light beam over Hobart
Photo by Christopher Neugebauer / flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0
Planning your trip
Getting there
Hobart Airport has flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other Australian cities. The airport is about 20 minutes from the city centre by bus or taxi. MONA is reached by ferry from the Hobart waterfront.
Where to stay
Hobart has hotels, guesthouses and apartments, many on or near the waterfront, but it is a small city, and rooms fill up during the festival. Book early, especially for weekends.
What it costs
Many installations and some events are free, while others, such as Night Mass and the Winter Feast, are ticketed. Hobart is moderately priced, and food at the Winter Feast is varied and good value.
Go like you know
- Visit MONA by ferry; it is one of the most original museums in the world.
- Look up at night for the searchlight beams of spectra over the city.
- Book the Winter Feast early in the evening, when it is less crowded, and come back later for the fires and music.
- Pack warm, waterproof boots; Hobart's winter streets are cold and wet.
- Explore Salamanca Place, the historic sandstone warehouses by the waterfront, by day.
- Dress for the cold, and warm up by the fires at the Winter Feast.
- Write your fears on the Ogoh-Ogoh before it is burned.
- Try Tasmanian oysters, whisky and cool-climate wines at the Winter Feast.
- Sydney's Vivid Sydney, around the same time, is Australia's other great winter festival of light.
- England's Stonehenge summer solstice marks the same day at the opposite end of the year.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dark Mofo in 2027?
The 2027 dates have not been announced. The festival usually runs for about two weeks in June, ending around the winter solstice on June 21; in 2026, it ran from June 11 to 22. Check the official website for the 2027 dates and programme.
Do I have to swim naked?
No. The Nude Solstice Swim is optional, and most visitors come for the art, music, food and fire. Swimmers must register in advance, and places are limited. Those who take part plunge into the cold Derwent River at dawn, and many say it is an unforgettable way to mark the solstice.
Is Dark Mofo suitable for children?
Some events, like the Winter Feast and some installations, are family friendly, but much of the programme is aimed at adults, with late-night events and confronting art. Check age restrictions and content warnings for each event before booking, and plan family visits for earlier in the evening.
