Beaker Street Festival 2026: Science, Art, and Antarctic Underwear in Tasmania
The Beaker Street Festival is set to celebrate its tenth anniversary from August 6 to 17, 2026, throughout Tasmania, under the theme 'The Second Act.' Initiated by Dr. Margo Adler, the festival will transform Hobart into 'Hobartica' during its opening weekend, which includes an Antarctic night market, a polar plunge pool, and celestial sessions. The following weekend features a Market Place Street Party, discussions on AI and social media addiction, as well as the annual debate regarding social media bans. Constantine Koukias's 'VAST' will debut at the Theatre Royal. Attendees can enjoy stargazing expeditions with Dr. Kirsten Banks and Dr. Martin George, while the Science Photography Prize Exhibition at TMAG will display 12 finalist images. Additionally, a real wedding and a presentation by Dr. Matt Kirkaldie are part of the lineup.
Key facts
- Beaker Street Festival runs from 6 to 17 August 2026 in Tasmania.
- The theme is 'The Second Act', focusing on the festival's next decade.
- Hobart is one of five Antarctic gateway cities and hosts the largest community of Antarctic researchers.
- The festival features an Antarctic night market, polar plunge pool, and geodesic domes with scientists.
- Constantine Koukias's 'VAST' premieres at the Theatre Royal, a 360-degree sound performance about dark matter.
- Dr Kirsten Banks and Dr Martin George lead stargazing at Mount Gnomon Farm.
- The Science Photography Prize Exhibition at TMAG showcases 12 finalist images.
- A real wedding will occur during the festival, with a talk on brain plasticity by Dr Matt Kirkaldie.
Entities
Artists
- Margo Adler
- Constantine Koukias
- Kirsten Banks
- Martin George
- Marley Butler
- Mandy Cotman
- Sarah Lloyd
- Matt Kirkaldie
- Theresa Sainty
- Brian Schmidt
- Mark Burne
- Tegan Taylor
Institutions
- Beaker Street Festival
- Tasmanian Museum and Gallery (TMAG)
- Hobart City Hall
- Theatre Royal
- Mount Gnomon Farm
- Frogmore Creek
- Hive Planetarium
- Astronomical Society of Tasmania
- University of Tasmania (UTAS)
- Radio National
- ArtsHub
- ScreenHub
Locations
- Hobart
- Tasmania
- Australia
- Nipaluna/Hobart
- Mount Gnomon Farm
- Coal River Valley
- Lutruwita/Tasmania
- Southern Ocean
- Antarctica
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands