As the Southern Hemisphere gears up to plunge into winter, Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival is here once again to bring a little light to the cooler months. Held annually in Hobart, Dark Mofo embraces the longest night of the year with a unique fusion of art, music, performance, and a deep dive into the unconventional. And, after a brief hiatus in 2024, the 2025 program is back with a boundary-pushing lineup. Below, here are the can't-miss highlights at Dark Mofo 2025, set to light up Tasmania this winter.
When is Dark Mofo 2025?
Dark Mofo's much-antiticapted return is slated for Thursday, 5 June, until Sunday, 15 June. The Nude Solstice Swim will take place a week later on Saturday, June 21, which marks the shortest day of the year.
When do tickets for Dark Mofo 2025 go on sale?
There's not long to go until tickets are released. Tickets will go on sale from 12pm on Wednesday, 9 April, via the Dark Mofo website.
These are the highlights on the Dark Mofo 2025 schedule
The 2025 Dark Mofo festival promises a daring lineup under the new direction of artistic director Chris Twite. After a year-long hiatus, the festival is set to push the boundaries with a bold mix of art, music, and immersive experiences. Key highlights include performances from iconic gothic-rock band The Horrors, whose 2025 tour marks their first Australian shows since 2012, and the enigmatic jazz-metal duo Clown Core, known for their surreal and genre-defying sound.
The festival will also feature unique music performances from US darkwave acts Boy Harsher and Cold Cave, as well as Australian-exclusive appearances by the progressive metal band Baroness and the alt-rapper Tierra Whack. For those seeking something truly extraordinary, the bizarre and electrifying Machine Girl will offer a cyberpunk-inspired sound, while the newly formed Australian trio Under In Between, featuring Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance, promises an unmissable debut.
Beyond the music, Dark Mofo's art program will, as always, deliver on thought-provoking and interactive installations. One standout is Nicholas Galanin’s striking 12-meter-wide neon sign at Dark Park, which invites festival-goers to scream in cathartic protest and release. Also not to be missed is the collaborative project "Everything Is Recorded" by legendary British producer Richard Russell, which will utilise a powerful sound system to create a 30-minute auditory experience that resonates throughout Hobart, allowing local residents to feel the intensity of sound in a truly immersive way.
Additionally, the festival returns with beloved traditions like the Nude Solstice Swim and the burning of the Ogoh-Ogoh effigy—this year’s sculpture representing the endangered Maugean skate. There's also the return of the much-loved Winter Feast, a standout culinary event showcasing the very best of Tasmanian food, wine, and spirits.
Plan your visit and read the schedule in-full here.
