Hello everyone,
As we welcome spring, we reflect on an incredible August. Unwind, our debut winter wellness festival, was a tremendous success, running over 10 days and bringing together local businesses to deliver a fantastic program of sold-out events. A sincere thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the campaign such a success.
August also saw the Launceston Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Congratulations to all winners and finalists (see further details below). We also had the privilege of attending the Visit Northern Tasmania Champions of Tourism Awards, which highlighted the outstanding contribution of our tourism operators and industry leaders. We congratulate all winners and finalists and thank them for the important role they play in promoting our region as a premier destination.
We have so much to celebrate with our partnerships and community spirit, and we look forward to building on this momentum. But first, an important update about exciting things ahead for NORTH Festival.
NORTH Festival 2026 is Moving to Autumn 2027
Following discussions with industry partners, producers and event organisers, we've made the decision to move NORTH to Autumn in 2027, embracing the season of abundance and creating an even bigger celebration of the people, place, produce and provenance that make northern Tasmania so special.
When NORTH first began six years ago, the City of Gastronomy designation hadn’t yet been awarded. In that time the amount of culinary focused events has expanded significantly. The menu is now looking a bit full this spring, with Launceston set to enjoy a vibrant and busy season. While this is fantastic for our city, we believe NORTH can have an even greater impact by activating the CBD during the quieter Autumn shoulder season, helping drive visitation, support local businesses and maximise the value of every dollar invested.
Moving to Autumn also opens exciting new opportunities for the festival itself. The feedback from our expressions of interest highlighted the challenge many producers face in spring, when seasonal produce is more limited. By celebrating NORTH during harvest season, we'll be able to showcase a richer and more diverse range of northern Tasmanian food, beverages and experiences.
Autumn is when northern Tasmania truly comes into its own. Orchards are full, harvests are underway, menus are overflowing with seasonal ingredients, and producers have an incredible story to tell. The move allows us to expand beyond a predominantly beverage-focused offering and create a festival that better reflects the full breadth of our region's food and agricultural excellence.
Most importantly, this decision helps support a sustainable and successful events calendar for Launceston. Rather than competing for audiences, media attention and ticket sales, we're creating space for events across the year to thrive, strengthening our city as a destination and delivering greater benefits for businesses and visitors alike.
In 2027, NORTH will become an autumn celebration of people, place, produce and provenance. We can't wait to share what's next.
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