Diwali
Lights on the Derwent
Immersive light gardens, collaborative rangoli, drone storytelling, and a floating diya ceremony.
- Lantern workshops for families
- Sound bath meets classical ragas
- Zero-waste festive market
Tasmania's cultural lightscape
Curating immersive Indian festival journeys for every season.
IFEST designs bold gatherings that blend performance, interactive art, gastronomy, and community rituals—reimagining Indian festivals for Tasmania’s waterfronts, valleys, and city squares.
48
Signature programs produced
82K
Attendees since launch
26
Municipal & industry partners
Designing festival ecosystems that nurture belonging.
Indian festivals celebrate the rhythms of light, colour, food, and storytelling. IFEST translates those moments into inclusive Tasmanian experiences through design thinking, sustainable practice, and deep community partnerships.
- Culture Studios: residencies co-creating programmes with First Nations and migrant storytellers.
- Future Feast Lab: chefs, growers, and producers curating regenerative dining tables.
- Volunteers-as-Hosts: 150+ trained cultural ambassadors guiding visitors each season.
Signature festival lineup
Each program is a modular experience blending ritual, performance, culinary craft, and community learning.
Diwali
Holi
Colours on Country
Earth-friendly pigment zones, fusion percussion, and shared storytelling on coexistence.
- Bio-safe colour rain canopies
- Collaborative mural walls
- Street-food laboratories
Navaratri
Garba Under the Stars
A circular dance arena with live folk ensembles, VR costume stations, and wellbeing rituals.
- Daily rhythm masterclasses
- Sensory-safe dance hours
- Midnight chai cinema
Onam
Harvest Circles
Floating pookalam installations, collaborative boat parades, and multi-course Sadhya feasts.
- Plant-forward culinary labs
- Intergenerational storytelling lounge
- Fibre arts maker studio
Build your festival pathway
Mix and match experience streams tailored for families, curious explorers, students, and creative professionals.
Sense & Savour
Immersive tastings, spice expeditions, and chef table collaborations with local producers.
Move & Meditate
Sunrise dances, mindful yoga, and indigenous-led reflection walks framed by festival stories.
Create & Co-design
Hands-on maker labs exploring textiles, visual storytelling, digital art, and immersive tech.
Festival trail 2026
Follow the island-wide journey shaped with councils, tourism partners, and community hosts.
Makara Sankranti Dawn
January · Hobart
Kite sculpting on the waterfront, sun salutation gatherings, and pay-it-forward breakfast langar.
Holi at the Waterline
March · Sandy Bay
Colour clouds, fusion percussion, and co-created murals celebrating unity in diversity.
Indian New Year Festivals
April · South Hobart
11th April 2026 · C3 Convention Centre, 64 Anglesea Street, South Hobart
Experience the vibrant cultural performances and festival delicacies.
Diwali Light Districts
November · Statewide
Neighbourhood lantern trails, climate-positive fireworks, and accessible storytelling tours.
Community voices
Festival collaborators, performers, volunteers, and partners reflect on the IFEST experience.
“IFEST reimagines what partnership looks like—we co-design every element, from sustainability goals to youth-led programming.”
“Our students learned through doing—hosting rituals, prototyping installations, and exploring their identities with confidence.”
“Volunteering with IFEST feels like joining a creative studio. The training, support, and friendships last beyond the events.”
Tourism Tasmania
City of Hobart
UTAS
Creative Australia
TasWater
Hydro Tasmania
Let’s co-create the next festival chapter.
Reach out to explore partnerships, book touring programmes, or host a festival micro-site in your region.