Dark Mofo, Tasmania's renowned winter festival of art and performance, is set to return in 2025 with an exciting lineup that promises to push the boundaries of creativity and engagement. After a hiatus in 2024 due to rising costs and changing conditions, the festival will run from Thursday, June 5, to Sunday, June 15, with an additional event, the Nude Solstice Swim, scheduled for Saturday, June 21.
Artistic Director Chris Twite expressed his enthusiasm about the festival's comeback, stating, "It feels incredible to bring so many boundary-pushing artists to Tasmania in 2025 for the full-scale return of Dark Mofo." This year’s festival will feature a diverse array of events, including live music, the Dark Park art hub, Night Mass parties, the Winter Feast, and the traditional Ogoh-Ogoh burning, where a large effigy will be set alight. The effigy this year will represent the endangered Maugean skate, a unique species found only in Macquarie Harbour.
Dark Mofo has secured 19 Australian exclusives for its 2025 lineup, featuring a mix of international and local talent. Among the highlights are performances by Philadelphia rap and R&B star Tierra Whack, gothic-rock band The Horrors, and the avant-garde duo Clown Core. Twite emphasized the festival's commitment to showcasing innovative artists, saying, "Once again, we will bathe the city in red, filling it with art and taking over disused and hidden spaces all across Nipaluna/Hobart."
Other notable acts include progressive metal group Baroness, darkwave pioneers Cold Cave, and electronic duo Machine Girl. The festival will also feature the opening performances by Beth Gibbons at Hobart’s Odeon Theatre, marking her return to the stage.
Tickets for the festival will be available for subscribers starting at 10 am AEST on April 9, 2025, with general sales commencing at noon on the same day. This year, festival organizers are emphasizing accessibility, with many non-musical events being free or low-cost, a move Twite believes will resonate with local audiences.
Dark Mofo will also present an array of thought-provoking art installations. One standout piece from Alaskan artist Nicholas Galanin will invite festival-goers to "take a knee and scream until you can’t breathe," providing a moment of catharsis and protest. Twite noted, "It’s this moment for catharsis, for protest, for shouting, for release."
In addition to Galanin's work, the festival will feature a unique performance titled "Crash Body" by Brazilian artist Paula Garcia, where she and a stunt driver will engage in a tense two-hour performance culminating in a head-on collision. This piece is designed to explore themes of tension and risk, pushing the boundaries of performance art.
Another compelling installation will be presented by Carlos Martiel, who will perform a piece titled "Custody," wherein he will be trapped inside an hourglass, a powerful commentary on the over-representation of people of color in prison systems worldwide. Twite remarked on the significance of Martiel's work, stating, "It is a very confronting and challenging statement."
Dark Mofo's music program will also extend beyond Hobart, with performances planned in Launceston and Ulverstone. The lineup includes acts like Thelma Plum and Methyl Ethel, who will perform together at Launceston’s Princess Theatre, while Ulverstone will host a collaboration between New Zealand illustrator Jess Johnson and American musician Simon Ward.
This year’s festival will also see the return of beloved traditions such as the Naked Solstice Swim, which had a record-breaking attendance of 3,000 participants in 2024. Twite confirmed that the swim will continue to be a highlight, taking place on June 21, the shortest day of the year.
In addition to live performances, Dark Mofo will feature a film program at North Hobart's State Cinema, showcasing cult classics and contemporary films that resonate with the festival's themes. This year’s program includes David Lynch's "Eraserhead," Ted Kotcheff's "Wake in Fright," and Rolf de Heer's "Bad Boy Bubby."
As the festival gears up for its return, Twite reflects on the challenges faced during the hiatus and the opportunities for renewal. "The legacy of Dark Mofo is greater than me," he stated. "It's a challenging, confronting arts festival that's unlike any other in Australia, and it's my role to shepherd it through the next era and make sure that it outlasts me."
With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and a celebration of the arts, Dark Mofo 2025 is poised to be an unforgettable experience that will light up Tasmania's winter nights.
