Hundreds of swimmers have braved Hobart’s chilly morning air for the annual Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim, marking the conclusion of the winter arts festival. The event took place at sunrise, 7:42 am, on Monday, 22 June, the shortest day of the year, at Long Beach in Sandy Bay, ABC News reported.
The swim is a key ritual of the festival, which is organised by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Participants entered the River Derwent, where water temperatures can hover around 12 degrees Celsius at this time of year, as a symbolic cleansing and a celebration of the return of light after the longest night.
The popular event has grown significantly since it began in 2013 with just a few hundred swimmers. In recent years, thousands have registered for the free but ticketed event, often booking out quickly. To meet demand, organisers have previously worked with Surf Life Saving Tasmania to increase capacity, according to reports from past events.
The 2026 Dark Mofo festival ran from 11 June to 22 June, featuring a program of large-scale art, music, and performance across Hobart. Signature events alongside the swim included the Winter Feast on the waterfront and the Ogoh-Ogoh parade and burning.
The Nude Solstice Swim is a well-established part of the festival, drawing both locals and tourists to the city during its coldest months. For more details on the event, readers can refer to the original report from ABC News.