The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery pays its respects to the original owners of the land upon which we work, the Muwinina and Mumirimina people, who did not survive British colonisation.
We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal community as the continuing custodians of Lutruwita/ Tasmania and honour Aboriginal Elders past and present.
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Lift Off! 2026: 18-23 April
TMAG’s Festival for Children and Young People.
Photographer Amy Brown
Lift Off! 2026: 18-23 April
Welcome to Lift Off 2026! TMAG’s Festival for Children and Young People. Inspired by the theme GROW, this year’s program is jam-packed with things to make, see, do and discover across six days of FREE events, workshops, performances, films, trails and hands-on activities. Get ready to GROW your ideas, creativity, connections and curiosity at Lift Off!
What’s on at Lift Off! 2026
A colourful, fun and engaging opening to Lift Off! 2026 hosted by members of the TMAG Young People’s Reference Panel. This event includes a Statement of Country
Dates + Times
Saturday 18 April - 12:30 pm
Duration
15 mins
Location
Watergate Courtyard at TMAG
Event type
Performances and Presentation
Age suitability
All ages
Find and See
Explore the festival street gallery, featuring banner murals created by school groups from across Tasmania.
Dates + Times
All day viewing, 18 April - 3 May
Duration
Drop in
Location
Macquarie Street and Dunn Place footpaths surrounding TMAG
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
All ages
Meet a real-life museum curator. Find out more about some of the objects they care for, research, and look after for future generations.
Dates + Times
20 - 23 April 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location
Central Gallery
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
All ages
Since 2005, more than 50 young people have displayed their amazing collections. Take a closer look at the current Young Collector.
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April 10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily
Location
The Argyle Link Foyer
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
All ages
Grow your knowledge of Tasmanian native shrubs, grasses, seeds, and fruits as you wander through TMAG’s Welcome Garden. A seedling giveaway to the first 20 people who complete the trail each day!
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm daily
Duration
Drop In – activity from 10 to 30 mins.
Location
Start at the Info Tent before going to the Welcome Garden
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
All ages
Acknowledgement
Seedling give aways supported by the City of Hobart
Festival space for self-serve stories, games and some quiet grow time!
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April 10:00 am - 1:00 pm daily
Duration
Drop In
Location
Centre For Learning and Discovery
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
Under 7 years
Trek around Antarctica and through history, with the Islands to Ice discovery trail and pop-up activations.
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Duration
Drop in
Location
Argyle Gallery 5 (Islands to Ice)
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
All ages (with adult assistance for under 7’s)
TMAG’s acclaimed interactive gallery for children 0–7 years. In the gallery you can find tall trees, soaring rock columns and tumbling waterfalls. Have you grown too big or can you crawl through the secret tunnel?
Dates + Times
10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily
Duration
At busy festival times, TMAG asks you to limit your visit to 20 minutes.
Location
Children’s Gallery (adjacent to TMAG Central Gallery)
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
0–7 years
Collect a sticker from the Info Tent and measure yourself up against some familiar and not-so-familiar animals.
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Duration
Drop in
Location
Watergate Courtyard Verandah
Event type
Find and See
Age suitability
All ages
Performances and Presentations
Join host Emma and play some cheeky museum games based on the hit ABC TV show that was filmed at TMAG!
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April 10:15am; 11:00am; 11:45am
Duration
20 mins
Location
Centre for Learning and Discovery (Large)
Event type
Performance and Presentations
Age suitability
All ages
Patron/ Booking advice
Free. No bookings required. Space limitations apply
Enjoy some of Tasmania’s best young buskers. Music to lunch by!
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Duration
45 mins
Location
Watergate Courtyard Verandah
Event type
Performance and Presentations
Age suitability
All ages
Listen to some stories inspired by one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. Read and told by Tasmanian Aboriginal learning facilitators.
Dates + Times
20 - 23 April, 10:30am; 11:15am; 12 noon.
Duration
15 mins
Location
Centre for Learning and Discovery (Small)
Event type
Performance and Presentations
Age suitability
All ages
Join a youth-led tour of contemporary art exhibition Hobart Current: Here. Visit favourite artworks nominated by students who were part of the Undercurrent Summer School.
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April 1:45 pm
Duration
30 mins
Location
The Meeting Point in Central Gallery
Event type
Performance and Presentations
Age suitability
All ages
Acknowledgement
Hobart Current: Here is presented by the City of Hobart and TMAG.
Watch an episode of the hit ABC TV show, Tonight at the Museum, that was filmed right here at TMAG. You might even spot a member of TMAG’s Young People’s Reference Panel!
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Duration
Drop in
Location
Central Gallery Event type Presentation/Chill Out
Age suitability
Ages 7 +
Acknowledgement
Tonight at the Museum is an i8 Studio and ABC co-production developed with the assistance of Screen Tasmania.
View a selection of the top two-minute films created by young science communicators. From the science of dust mite poo to satellites and green cows!
Dates + Times
20 - 23 April, 1:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Duration
Drop in
Location
Centre for Learning and Discovery
Event type
Presentation/Chill Out
Age suitability
7+ years
Acknowledgement
The Eureka Prize is a project of The Australian Museum
Make and Do
Learn how trees can make music! Fascinating science and beautiful sounds with Mark and his amazing musical plant cart.
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Duration
Drop In
Location
TMAG entrance Welcome Garden
Event type
Make and Do
Age suitability
All ages
Spend some time in TMAG’s native Welcome Garden – with sensory walks, cubbies, mandalas, whittling and weaving, bug and beetle sculptures.
Presented by
Nature Be In it
Dates + Times
20 - 22 April, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Duration
Drop in
Location
Welcome Garden at TMAG
Event type
Make and Do
Age suitability
All ages
Be inspired by Kunanyi/Mount Wellington and contribute to a giant growing artwork inspired by the mountain’s dolerite organ pipes.
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Duration
Drop in
Location
TMAG Courtyard
Event type
Make and Do
Age suitability
All ages
Learn more about Hobart’s bush reserves and grow your bush detective skills!
Presented by
Hobart City Council
Dates + Times
18 -19 April, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Duration
Drop In
Location
TMAG Centre for Learning and Discovery
Event type
Make and do
Age suitability
All ages
Acknowledgements
Bush Adventures are a program of the City of Hobart.
10 contemporary Tasmanian artists have created new works as part of Hobart Current: Here. Grow your own collage based on elements from the exhibition!
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm daily
Location
Central Gallery
Event type
Make and Do
Age suitability
All ages (with adult assistance for children under 5)
Acknowledgement
Hobart Current: Here is presented by the City of Hobart and TMAG
Grow your creativity with footpath chalk drawing at the TMAG entrance
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April 10:00 am – 12:00 pm daily
Duration
Drop in
Location
Watergate entrance at TMAG
Event type
Make and Do
Age suitability
All ages
Grow your skills and enjoy an active afternoon with festival circus sessions brought to you by the Sand’s Family Circus.
Dates + Times
18 - 23 April, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm daily
Duration
Drop in – no bookings required.
Location
Watergate Courtyard at TMAG
Age suitability
7+ years
Patron/ Booking advice
Free. No bookings required but place limits may apply.
Special Ticketed Events
TMAG comes alive after dark for this special festival evening for young people aged 10 –15 years. Photo-booth selfies, a silent disco, yummy snacks and galleries by torchlight.
Dates + Times
Friday 17 April 2026, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Duration
2 hours
Location
TMAG
Age suitability
10 –15 years
Tickets
Tickets: $15.00 (includes a drink and gluten free snack (taco) and entry to all activities across the evening) Bookings essential. Secure your booking here.
This booked session offers a quieter way to enjoy Lift Off!, before TMAG opens and features select festival highlights.
Limited metred parking is available in Dunn Place carpark TMAG is within walking distance to the Hobart city interchange for Metro bus routes, and the Brooke Street Pier ferry terminal.
Patron Advice
Lift Off! daytime activities are free and open on a drop-in basis, with no bookings required. Please check the patron advice for individual activities. Many activities take place outdoors, and some can be messy. We recommend dressing for the conditions and wearing closed shoes. Capacity limits apply to some activities, and we appreciate your patience when areas are busy. All activities take place at TMAG, Hobart.
Terms and Conditions
Program details are correct at time of publishing. TMAG reserves the right to amend, remove or replace activities at any time. For the latest updates, visit the Festival Info Booth on the day or follow TMAG on social media.
Sponsor Acknowledgement
TMAG gratefully acknowledges support for Lift Off! 2026, through the City of Hobart’s Event Support Program.
