"Parade of Sail" Festival Opening. Credit: AWBF / Doug Thost
The next Australian Wooden Boat Festival will be held 5 - 8 February 2027.
The preview program for the 2027 Festival will be released in early November 2026.
For a glimpse of what's ahead take a look at our past programming here: 2025 Festival
AWBF is the southern hemisphere's premier celebration of wooden boats and maritime culture and Lutruwita/Tasmania's largest free festival. Founded in 1994, the not-for-profit four-day festival is held biennially in Nipaluna/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 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.
A festival much-loved by Tasmanians, mainlanders and overseas friends, the event is powered by passionate individuals, community groups and organisations committed to protecting and celebrating wooden boats and maritime culture. Those who’ve not attended may think it’s a niche event only for devout wooden boat enthusiasts. They’d be wrong.
Despite being a not-for-profit, the AWBF is big. In 2025, the festival welcomed 400+ wooden boats, 56,000+ visitations, 100+ exhibitors and vendors, and 250+ performers, speakers, authors and chefs. This was all delivered by a small team of highly skilled staff and an amazingly talented and dedicated 350+ strong volunteer crew. Our incredible partners and donors also contribute to our success by providing generous financial and in-kind support. And, of course, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the boat owners and enthusiasts who make the AWBF possible. Thank you all!
Fair winds, and see you in 2027!
Sustainable Festival, Sustainable Tourism
The AWBF is proud to be Quality and Sustainable Tourism accredited through the Australian Tourism Industry Council. This prestigious recognition ensures that AWBF meets the highest industry standards for service and business procedures. The distinctive QTAB brandmark assures festival visitors that AWBF is committed to providing exceptional quality, sustainability, and a consistent standard of excellence in every aspect of the festival experience.
Environmental Sustainability
We’re committed to minimising our environmental impact. Across the festival site you’ll find recycling and composting stations, reusable cups at the Waterside Tavern, and water refill stations to reduce single-use plastics. Stallholders are encouraged to adopt sustainable practices, helping us keep waste out of landfill.
Economic Sustainability
AWBF contributes over $26 million to the Tasmanian economy. By drawing visitors from across Australia and overseas, we support local accommodation providers, hospitality venues, and tourism operators. The festival also generates more than 200 paid opportunities for Tasmanian artists, chefs, craftspeople, and contractors.
Credit: Heather Bird
Community Sustainability
Sustainability also means nurturing community. We work closely with Tasmanian community organisations to co-create programming that celebrates local culture and connection. More than 374 volunteers play a central role in welcoming visitors and keeping the festival humming. Our storytelling initiatives — including the Book Barge (delivered in partnership with Variety Tasmania and Fullers Bookshop to support children’s literacy and Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature), the Library of the Sea, and Pecha Kucha Hobart — create spaces for literacy, learning, and belonging.
Credit Alex Nicholson
Cultural Sustainability
We’re proud to sustain wooden boat culture by fostering intergenerational skills transfer and celebrating maritime traditions. AWBF 2025 highlighted “The Pacific,” with cultural programming and partnerships that built deeper ties between Tasmanian communities, Pacific nations, and First Nations contributors.
Look back at our Pacific program on dedicated 2025 festival website
Image; Alex Nicholson
