Antarctic parties, polar plunges, scientists, live music and more than 20 mostly free events take over Hobart’s waterfront this August.

Beaker Street Festival has unveiled the full program for Hobartica, its immersive Antarctic precinct that will once again transform Hobart’s waterfront into a vibrant celebration of Antarctic culture, science and winter rituals, kicking off the Festival’s first weekend 6-9 August.

Returning as part of Beaker Street Festival’s 10th anniversary celebrations, Hobartica invites locals and visitors to experience one of the world’s five Antarctic gateway cities in a whole new way, with more than 20 largely free events spanning live music, Antarctic talks, polar plunges, art, exhibitions, an Antarctic night market, sidewalk astronomy, family activities and unforgettable encounters with the people who live and work on The Ice.

“Nipaluna/Hobart is home to the highest concentration of Antarctic researchers in the world, and most of them are in residence here in the winter, so it’s an amazing time for the community to come out and connect with the people, culture, and environments of Antarctica,,” said Beaker Street Festival Founder and Creative Director Dr Margo Adler.

“This year’s Hobartica precinct will take the form of an Antarctic village, complete with an Antarctic night market, geodesic domes filled with scientists and artists, delicious things to eat and drink, and a Polar Plunge tank right in the midst of it all.”

Visitors can stop into the Antarctic Lounge inside the Waterside Pavilion, which will become a lively waterfront gathering place featuring some of the island’s best live bands, dancing, Antarctic-inspired cocktails, Science Open Mic sessions, Antarctic PowerPoint Karaoke, and a range of special events.

Outside, Mawson Place will take the form of a cosy Antarctic night village, with open fires, geodesic domes, scientists and local vendors inside Night Market stalls. Visitors can take the Polar Plunge Challenge, immersing themselves in icy water before collecting a commemorative POLARoid photo and a polar plunge patch designed by local artist Kat Scarlet, and warming up with a hot drink. The program also includes Celestial Sessions, immersive live musical performances inside an eight-metre geodesic dome, and free Sidewalk Astronomy with the Astronomical Society of Tasmania.

Families can create their own Antarctic-inspired creatures at a Krill Making session with scientists and artists, while history lovers can step behind the scenes at the State Library and Archives to explore rare journals, books and artefacts from the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. Visitors can also enjoy free entry to the Australian National Maritime Museum exhibition Antarctica is Melting, featuring striking black-and-white photographs by David Neilson, captured across six Antarctic expeditions.

The program also features a series of special Antarctic talks with leading researchers, including renowned oceanographer Dr Steve Rintoul, ancient DNA expert Dr Linda Armbrecht, and a family-friendly talk on whale migration with Dr Virginia Andrews-Goff.

Beyond the waterfront, Beaker Street Festival continues to spill science into every corner of Hobart. A BioBlitz on Kunanyi / Mount Wellington invites participants to join scientists and Aboriginal knowledge holders in documenting local wildlife while exploring the mountain’s unique ecology from afternoon into twilight. Meanwhile, at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, visitors can play locally made indie video games while chatting with UTAS researchers about gaming’s effects on cognitive development.

The Festival’s second weekend moves into its Epicentre precinct, where a free street party at Market Place will fill the city with live music, Beaker Street Radio, science-inspired performances, silent films with live violin accompaniment and the PowerPoint Karaoke finals. The Roving Scientist Bar also returns with almost 150 scientists on hand for informal conversations, alongside new family-friendly and sensory-friendly sessions. At Fullers Bookshop, Survival in the Sublime brings together Tasmanian adventurers, surfers, authors and wilderness experts to share stories from some of the world’s wildest places.

“One of the things people love most about Beaker Street Festival is stumbling across experiences they never expected,” Adler said.

“You might arrive for a talk on our Main Stage and end up in a wild conversation at the pub with a glaciologist or an extinction researcher, then competing in a rousing round of PowerPoint Karaoke with a bunch of nerdy new friends. We encourage people to come alone to the Festival. It’s a great place to meet people, and you’re guaranteed to walk away having discovered something new.”

The Hobartica and Epicentre programs form part of the 2026 Beaker Street Festival, running from 6-17 August across Nipaluna/Hobart and beyond.