AWBF is Tasmania's largest free event and the largest celebration of wooden boats and maritime culture in the Southern Hemisphere.

Founded in 1994, the four-day festival is held biennially in Hobart, spanning the entire waterfront and feeding into the city beyond.

Hobart's historic port bursts to life with a vibrant atmosphere, offering a curated blend of experiences. The festival features a stunning collection of 400+ wooden vessels, from historic tall ships and classic yachts to traditional fishing boats.

Visitors can enjoy the grandeur of the opening Parade of Sail, and the closing Admiral's Sail, along with on-water displays, boat cruises and tours, symposium talks, workshops, cooking demos, exhibitions, theatre, film, live music at the festival tavern, delicious Tasmanian food and drink, and a dedicated kids' maritime precinct with shaded areas and plenty of activities.

What's on:

Events and points of interest around Hobart.

21 Jun 2025 - 18 Jan 2026
Shiver
Shiver returns for a school holiday edition perfectly timed for families.
15 Nov 2025 - 28 Feb 2026
Art Farm Birchs Bay Annual Sculpture Prize
Celebrating art in nature, Art Farm Birchs Bay's Annual Sculpture Prize invites people to come and explore sculptures installed along a 2km trail.
20 Aug 2025 - 26 Jan 2026
The World of Butterflies
Explore the beauty, diversity and resilience of butterflies. Featuring hundreds of specimens from around the globe.
11 Dec 2025 - 2 Mar 2026
BBL|14 It Was Our Time
'BBL|14: It Was Our Time' celebrates the unforgettable moment the Hobart Hurricanes claimed their first Big Bash League title.
11 Dec 2025 - 26 Apr 2026
Hobart Current: Here
Hobart Current: Epoch is a thought-provoking contemporary program and exhibition, featuring new works created by 10 artists in response to the theme of ‘epoch’.
6 Jun 2025 - 6 Apr 2026
Arcangelo Sassolino: in the end, the beginning
Italian sculptor Arcangelo Sassolino brings his experiments with force, change and some very hot steel to Mona.
15 Feb 2025 - 16 Feb 2026
Théo Mercier: MIRRORSCAPE
Five countries, five exhibitions: France, Germany, Estonia, Denmark, and now Australia. The latest iteration of Jeremy Shaw’s new venture arrives at Mona.
5 Jan 2026 - 31 Jan 2026
Summer Exhibition
Bett Gallery will celebrate its 40th year of operation in 2026.
30 Dec 2025 - 18 Jan 2026
Big Monkey Theatre’s production of “The Lizard of Aus”
When Maggie Magpie gets her new book of magic, everything at Cooee Creek goes mango-shaped.
9 Jan 2026 - 11 Jan 2026
Cygnet Folk Festival
Discover the Magic of Cygnet Folk Festival!
All events