Imagine a place where scientists grace centre stage, microscopes live on bar tables, and late-night conversations have the potential to change the world.
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Known for its genre-defying approach and boundary-pushing ideas, Beaker Street Festival has cemented its place as Australia’s most imaginative festival of science and culture. Each August, thousands of visitors from across the country and beyond descend on Tasmania to dive into big ideas, deep discussions, and wild adventures—all set against the raw beauty of Tasmania’s winter landscape.
For nearly a decade, our program has featured some of science’s biggest names – from Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt and Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, to TikTok star AstroKirsten and legendary environmentalist Prof Tim Flannery, alongside legends of science communication like Dr Karl, Tegan Taylor, Robyn Williams, Adam Spencer, Wendy Zukerman, and many more.
Beaker Street Festival returns to Nipaluna/Hobart and beyond, 12 – 19 August 2025.
Beaker Street Festival is presented by Beaker Street, an independent charitable cultural organisation building community through scientific understanding in Lutruwita/Tasmania.
In 2025, Beaker Street Festival is supported by the following Major Partners: the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania, City of Hobart, the Australian Government as part of National Science Week, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Since its inception, Beaker Street Festival has wowed audiences with unmatched programming, exploring emerging trends and the latest breakthroughs in a fun and welcoming atmosphere — and 2024 was no exception. Last year, attendees dove into Antarctic science (literally!), helped bring stars back to the city skyline, dipped their toes into the slippery science of wellness, and tasted the future of food.
The action took place in an expanded Festival precinct spanning Nipaluna/Hobart’s cultural and entertainment hubs and took in City Hall, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, The Old Mercury Building, Hope and Anchor, Mawson Place, and pubs, bars, and restaurants around the waterfront and CBD.
Whether you’re a curious mind, an insatiable foodie (or drinkie?), or are simply seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure, you’ll be in the right place at Beaker Street Festival.
Past Programs
Introducing: Hobartica! Take a deep-dive into Antartica, without leaving a trace. Including Polar Plunge pools, Finnish Sauna Tents, Antarctic audioscapes, and loads of Antarcticans to answer all your coldest questions. Plus, a futuristic mashup of space, AI, food and wellness trends, with a healthy dose of nature excursions and an east coast retreat.
Psychedelics, Menopause, and Tim Flannery were part of our 2023 Featured Speaker Sessions at Hobart’s Theatre Royal Studio Theatre, with Fungi Expeditions, Bat Tours, and Museum Vaults included in our Field Trips – the best way to experience Tasmania’s hidden secrets and wild places. Seaweed and Vaginas were on the menu at Mona, and our Dark Sky Retreat at Spring Bay Mill was an unforgettable exhale.
Is science really for everyone? In 2022 we took at deep dive into the cultural complexities of science, with discussions from the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, the Deaf community, and a musical exposé expressing the wishes of the dead. We also went north, with events exploring the science of stadiums, sparkling wine, and sauerkraut.
