The Australian Antarctic Festival celebrates Australia's unique connection to Antarctica through science, exploration, heritage and family-friendly experiences.
Hosted by the Mawson's Huts Foundation, the free four-day festival will feature Antarctic technology and equipment, educational activities, live talks, virtual reality experiences and opportunities to engage directly with the people behind Australia's Antarctic program.
The festival is an opportunity to celebrate Tasmania's Antarctic connection with both the local community and visitors from interstate and overseas.
From the heroic era of Douglas Mawson through to modern Antarctic science and climate research, the festival celebrates the people and organisations shaping Australia's ongoing presence in Antarctica.
The Australian Antarctic Festival continues to grow alongside Hobart's international reputation as an Antarctic Gateway city. Hobart is one of only five internationally recognised Antarctic Gateway cities and is home to one of the world's leading Antarctic research and logistics networks.
The festival highlights Hobart's globally significant role within the Antarctic sector with Tasmania having been described as the "beating heart of Antarctic logistics".
The full 2026 festival program will be released in June.