Tasmania’s Taste of Summer is stepping up the action this year with a brand-new sports bar and ‘giant’ outdoor screen.
From the Hobart Hurricanes, the JackJumpers, test cricket or the finish of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Taste organisers say patrons will be able to soak up the Taste atmosphere while staying across every score and highlight.
Taste of Summer general manager Katharine Dean said the new sports bar experience was about bringing even more energy, excitement and choice to the festival.
“Some of the best things of summer in Tasmania is the sports, as well as the food and the waterfront,” she said.
“So we’re kind of bringing all of those together in the one place.”
The sports bar will feature a curated selection of drinks alongside local food, with festival partners Willie Smith’s, James Boag’s beers and Ponting Wines helping bring the space to life.
Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, whose wine label has signed on as the official wine partner for the next three years, said the collaboration was a natural fit.
“It’s the best time of year to be in Hobart,” he said.
“Growing up in Tasmania, sport was my life and summer meant cricket, so I know how special this time of year is for Tasmanians.”
Willie Smith’s director Andrew Smith said it was an amazing opportunity for the Huon Valley cidery.
“To do it with Tasmania’s best products, Tasmania’s best wine, Tasmania’s best cricketer, Tasmania’s best cider and a shed full of the rest of Tasmania’s best produce is a great opportunity,” he said.
The sports bar is one of several new initiatives for the festival’s fifth year, which Ms Dean said has grown significantly in venue size, programming and patron attendance.
Other additions include Taste Experiences with wine masterclasses and gin tastings, the Season & Fire restaurant offering bookable dining sessions, and the 7K Raspberry Room for VIP experiences.
Ms Dean said the festival had worked hard to address previous concerns about capacity and crowding.
“The capacity that we have on site, we keep it much lower than … what our potential capacity would be, because we actually really want that experience for people,” she said.
“We want people to be able to talk to the stallholders and learn about what they’re eating and drinking.”
The Taste of Summer returns to Hobart’s waterfront from 27 December 2025 to 3 January 2026.
