Winter arrives on the Mornington Peninsula with a particular quality of stillness. Then, on the longest night of the year, Sorrento Foreshore breaks into fire.
Sorrento Solstice is a large-scale Winter Solstice celebration returning to the Sorrento Foreshore on Saturday 20 June 2026, with the companion Dawn Swim on Sunday 21 June. Gates open at 2:00 PM. The festival features live music, DJs, fire performers, and a spectacular burning installation, all set against the water at the edge of one of Victoria’s most beloved coastal villages.
This is a free, ticketed event. All ages. All welcome.
The afternoon builds slowly and deliberately. Lantern-making opens from 2:00 PM, sound healing flows from the feature marquee, and the village comes alive with roving performers, artisan stalls and live painting. At 5:07 PM, a lantern walk winds from the village down to the water’s edge.
Then, at 6:30 PM, Bernie burns.
The centrepiece of Sorrento Solstice is a 6-metre effigy, lit against the winter sky in a fire ritual that draws the crowd together at the water’s edge as darkness settles over the bay. It is one of Victoria’s most dramatic and distinctive winter spectacles, drawing visitors from Melbourne, across the state and beyond.
Live performers across two stages include Leo Ercole, Resonant Realms, Lachie Clue (Top 24 finalist, Australian Idol), Tim Koren and more. A Welcome to Country forms part of the programme. A food precinct of local and regional traders lines the foreshore, with bars open through the evening.
Sorrento Solstice is proudly supported by the Victorian State Government through Visit Victoria.
Sorrento Solstice Sorrento Foreshore, Sorrento VIC 3943 Saturday 20 June 2026, 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM Free, ticketed entry. Register at Humanitix
Dawn Swim Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club Sunday 21 June 2026 Register at Humanitix
