Australia’s Oldest Sporting Event Returns as Hobart Marks the 188th Royal Hobart Regatta

Media release – Royal Hobart Regatta Association, 2 February 2026

Australia’s Oldest Sporting Event Returns as Hobart Marks the 188th Royal Hobart Regatta

Royal Hobart Regatta will return to the River Derwent from 7 to 9 February 2026, marking 188 years of continuous competition while commemorating the 80th anniversary of the historic 1946 Victory Regatta.

Held across the Regatta long weekend, the 188th Regatta will bring together elite aquatic competition, Defence heritage, and community celebration in what organisers describe as a rare example of Australia’s living sporting and civic history.

First held in 1838, the Royal Hobart Regatta is Australia’s oldest surviving sporting event, predating many of the nation’s major institutions. The 1946 Victory Regatta, held in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, symbolised national recovery and unity and was attended by an estimated five per cent of Tasmania’s population at the time, underscoring its significance as a moment of shared public celebration.

This year’s programme will feature a full schedule of aquatic competition on the River Derwent, alongside family-friendly activities onshore and significant Defence participation recognising 125 years of service by the Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy.

The Association has extended a warm welcome to HMAS Stalwart (III), which will serve as this year’s flagship vessel and provide a focal point for Defence engagement throughout the weekend, alongside participation by the Royal Australian Air Force.

This years Regatta guarantees free fun for the whole family.

New offerings:
• Government House – Family Day
As Patron of the Royal Hobart Regatta, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania, has again opened the grounds of Government House to the public for a dedicated Family Day during the Regatta weekend. The event will offer free entry, family-friendly activities and engagement with a range of community and patronage organisations, reinforcing the Regatta’s strong civic and community foundations.

• Come & Try Day – Doone Kennedy Aquatic Centre
In partnership with the City of Hobart, a Come & Try Day will provide opportunities for members of the public to engage directly with aquatic sports featured in the Regatta, encouraging participation and showcasing pathways from grassroots involvement to competition.

Royal Hobart Regatta:
• Behind the Scenes with TasPorts
Working with TasPorts, the Regatta will again highlight the vital role of Hobart’s working harbour. The new Tour with TasPorts experience will see regularly scheduled cruises departing Brooke Street Pier, offering insight into the coordination and expertise required to manage maritime activity generally and during one of the city’s busiest waterfront weekends.

Returning favourites:
• Trans Derwent Swim
This years cross river swim will see 10-year-old McKenzie Muskett take on seasoned competitors as they race from Monatgu Bay to the Regatta grounds.

• Canoe Polo
Canoe polo will again feature at the Regatta, bringing fast-paced, close-quarters competition to the River Derwent. Played in kayaks, the sport combines ball skills, tactical play and physical endurance, with matches unfolding quickly and close to the shoreline. The event offers spectators an opportunity to see canoe polo at a grassroots level, showcasing the skill and intensity of local teams in a format that is both accessible and highly engaging to watch.

• Regatta Fireworks
As is customary, Sunday evening will culminate in the Regatta Fireworks, lighting up the Hobart waterfront following a night of live entertainment. Performances by the Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy Rock Bands will set the tone earlier in the evening, before the weekend concludes with one of Hobart’s most anticipated fireworks displays.