More than 3,000 people registered for the annual nude winter solstice swim at Long Beach in Hobart, closing out Tasmania's Dark Mofo festival on Monday morning. The event, held at dawn after the shortest day of the year, saw participants brave air temperatures of just 3.2C, making it the city's coldest morning of 2026 so far, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Water temperatures were slightly more bearable at around 12C.
Record Participation and Chilly Conditions
The ABC reported that 3,000 people had signed up for this year's swim, matching the record set in 2025. The first nude swim was held in 2013 with only a few hundred participants. Swimmers lined the beach before taking the plunge into the waves, with many warming up afterwards with towels and hot drinks. The Hobart CBD recorded a low of 3.2C a few minutes before dawn, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, making it the city’s coldest morning of the year so far.
Dark Mofo Festival Concludes
The swim marks the end of the Dark Mofo festival, which began on 11 June. The festival, known for its provocative and artistic events, draws thousands of visitors to Hobart each year. The nude solstice swim has become a signature event, symbolizing a communal embrace of the winter cold. Photographs by Rob Blakers and Ethan James captured the spectacle, showing swimmers braving the waves and the frosty air.
