Have you seen Dark Mofo taking over the town?
If you’re in and around Tasmania these past two weeks, you’ve probably seen the local businesses painting the town red. We’ve been hearing comments about Dark Mofo for the past few weeks, and Tasmanian, interstate, and international customers have been raving about how impressive the Hobart businesses activations are.
Right in the thick of it
Walk the Hobart CBD streets right now and you’ll feel it before you see it: a low hum of anticipation, flickering red lights on shopfront glass, and a city fully committed to the bit.
Have you spotted these hooded figures?
It’s one of our favourite times to be locals. Customers have been popping in and out of our office all week, and comments are pretty consistent: people are blown away by how much the festival has grown, how immersive it feels, and how genuinely strange our sweet island is. High praise.
A city lit red
There’s something wonderful about watching familiar streets transform overnight. The city centre has that hushed, electric energy of a place holding its breath.
Concoctions for cold nights
Cult Logic, our favourite coffee shop – just a skip and a jump away, puts on extended trading hours and serves up proper Dark Mofo-themed drinks to match the mood. After something warm? Something mischievous? Stop by.
Book bathing – in red!
Check out Fullers Bookshop. All in. Like many other Hobart storefronts, their display window is entirely bathed in red for the festival, turning one of Hobart’s most loved independent bookshops into an eerie, cosy stop. Or stay…
Familiar facades, unfamiliar faces
If you’ve managed to snag a Night Mass ticket, keep your eyes peeled as you wander. Hobart is small enough that you might spot a familiar business or two tucked into the precinct in ways you wouldn’t expect.
We won’t say too much, but if a particular garage catches your eye somewhere amongst the warehouses, toilet towns, and laneways, take a closer look. It might just be one you recognise.
Is there still time to Dark Mofo?
Short answer: abso-mofo-cking-lutely. The festival runs through to the solstice, and there’s still plenty of Dark Mofo left to experience: the Winter Feast, burning your fears in the Ogoh-Ogoh, and tonight and tomorrow’s Night Masses.
Will you be up ’til the wee hours? We hope so. But, when darkness ends, adventure begins…
See it for yourself
We still have cars available to get you around the city and beyond. Use our code MOFO2026 to get 10% off your daily rental rate during the festival period.
Need an escape plan? Book before the 22nd of June to secure your discount and check out the red glow all around the state.
Need more information about the discount?
Look no further and click here… if you dare. Grab your car. Will it be red?
Who else is lighting up the town red?
We’re intentional about Dark Mofo in Tasmania. You can be, too.
Take photos of participating businesses (ours included!), spaces, and Dark Mofo-esque events to win prizes when you share on socials, tagging @hobartandbeyond with the hashtag #pttr26
All the red pins!
Check out the Paint the Town Red 2026 map. Zoom out of Hobart, and find more activations statewide.
See you at Night Mass. But you won’t see us.
