From hidden laneway events to epic pop-ups, Melbourne gets lit once the lights go out. Put these events and adventures in your diary for the ultimate night out.

Free night-time fun

Winter Night Market
Until

Winter Night Market

The Winter Night Market returns to the iconic Queen Victoria Market sheds.

The Artistry Drone Show

The Artistry Drone Show

A sky full of drones will light up Melbourne's sky.

Einder

Einder

Look up, the roaring sea meets the sky in an aerial dance in a fabric installation by Boris Acket.

Burdi Burdi

Burdi Burdi

A sonic installation along Evan Walker Bridge.

DELIRI

DELIRI

State Library Victoria morphs with an algorithm-driven audio-visual hallucination.

Alcove LTD

Alcove LTD

An optical illusion of light and sound.

Sea Shanties and Folk Songs
Until

Sea Shanties and Folk Songs

Join this free weekly celebration of rollicking and spirited singing.

Laugh Lab
Until

Laugh Lab

Come watch some of Melbourne's best comedians perform in the cosiest cocktail bar in town

Library Cinema at narrm ngarrgu
Until

Library Cinema at narrm ngarrgu

Each month, watch a movie on the big screen, including contemporary, classic and documentary films.

Poetry Open Mic
Until

Poetry Open Mic

Come along to the Motley Bauhaus every Wednesday night to wax poetic.

Strum and Sing Ukulele Group
Until

Strum and Sing Ukulele Group

A weekly free event for ukulele players and singers, for seasoned strummers or beginners.

Free Jazz Jam – Open-Mic
Until

Free Jazz Jam – Open-Mic

Join a free jazz jam hosted by Frankie McNulty.

New to Melbourne Language Exchange
Until

New to Melbourne Language Exchange

Practise a new language, and make new friends over cheap food and drink.

Theatre & shows

Beetlejuice The Musical
Until

Beetlejuice The Musical

The eight-time Tony Award-nominated musical is now playing at the Regent Theatre.

Annie
Until

Annie

A little hero for a big tomorrow.

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo

A theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity in a festive parade imagined by a clown.

Footloose: The Musical

Footloose: The Musical

This smash-hit musical will leave you on your feet and cheering for more.

Defrost Festival

Defrost Festival

Enjoy the biggest improv festival in the southern hemisphere.

Granny Bingo
Until

Granny Bingo

Melbourne’s cult comedy night hosted by Australia’s nastiest nannas.

Coriolanus

Coriolanus

Bell Shakespeare presents one of Shakespeare's most exhilarating works.

Rebecca

Rebecca

Step into the haunting world of Daphne du Maurier’s classic 1938 novel.

Mother Play
Until

Mother Play

Expansive yet intimate drama charting the personal upheavals of one family starring Sigrid Thornton.

Destiny

Destiny

This family drama serves as a potent reminder that the past is always with us.

Dying: A Memoir

Dying: A Memoir

Equally moving and hilarious, Cory Taylor’s last work has been adapted by Benjamin Law.

Trophy Boys

Trophy Boys

A queer black comedy and drag extravaganza about power, privilege, and high school debating.

Carnival of Karactors
Until

Carnival of Karactors

A monthly cabaret show featuring sexy and silly circus artists, comedians and magic performers.

Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled
Until

Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

Enjoy stand-up comedy from future stars and celebrity guest headliners.

More evening events to book right now

Now or Never

Now or Never

Arts, ideas, sound, technology; a festival of new dimensions for Melbourne/Narrm.

Lightscape
Until

Lightscape

New sights. New sounds. A whole new journey.

Melbourne International Film Festival

Melbourne International Film Festival

Melbourne International Film Festival lights up Melbourne this winter with over 250 titles.

NGV Friday Nights: French Impressionism
Until

NGV Friday Nights: French Impressionism

Enjoy an after-hours exploration of French Impressionism at NGV International.

Library Up Late

Library Up Late

Party late into the night at State Library Victoria

Nocturnal: Museum After Dark
Until

Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

Step into a world of wonder at an after-hours Melbourne Museum experience just for adults.

Ostro x Einder

Ostro x Einder

Julia Busuttil Nishimura crafts a feast beneath the striking installation, Einder by Boris Acket.

RISING: Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf
Until

RISING: Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf

The art of mini-golf, for anyone who swings outside the lines.

Stellar Nights
Until

Stellar Nights

Embark on a journey through time and space with this guided tour at the Observatory.

Young Marco / Logic1000 / Big Ever / KDV Performance Group

Young Marco / Logic1000 / Big Ever / KDV Performance Group

A night of deep feeling, delirious levels of up-tempo energy and full-sensory release.

Marie Davidson / OK EG / KDV Performance Group

Marie Davidson / OK EG / KDV Performance Group

Three singular forces converge for a night of radical artistic expression in sound and movement

DJ Python / DJ Plead B2B rRoxymore / Yarra

DJ Python / DJ Plead B2B rRoxymore / Yarra

This one’s for the rhythm-obsessed and the dance-floor faithful.

Ryoji Ikeda ultratronics / CORIN presents DIWA

Ryoji Ikeda ultratronics / CORIN presents DIWA

Two visionaries of live AV bend time and space in one transcendent night of sensory immersion.

Melbourne Museum Family Sleepover
Until

Melbourne Museum Family Sleepover

Join Melbourne Museum premium sleepover for a once-in-a-lifetime night with your family.

Wallabies v The British & Irish Lions

Wallabies v The British & Irish Lions

Witness this historic rugby match between the Wallabies and The British and Irish Lions.

Melbourne Museum Adult Sleepover

Melbourne Museum Adult Sleepover

Join a premium sleepover at Melbourne Museum and IMAX for a once-in-a-lifetime night with your crew.

The Whitlams with the MSO

The Whitlams with the MSO

The Whitlams joins the MSO in a one-off performance of their renowned symphonic collaboration.

Flavours of Melbourne Night Trail
Until

Flavours of Melbourne Night Trail

An evening of culinary delights, cultural exploration and memorable moments.

Ghosts? What Ghosts! Night Tour
Until

Ghosts? What Ghosts! Night Tour

Brace yourself for bone-strumming tales of unexplained sights after dark.

Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise

Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a relaxing three-hour Yarra River dinner cruise.

Kayak Melbourne

Kayak Melbourne

Guided paddling tours through Melbourne along the Yarra River and Victoria Harbour.

Polly Woodside Open Day
Until

Polly Woodside Open Day

Climb aboard and roam the decks of one of Australia’s last surviving 19th-century tall ships.

Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour
Until

Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour

Take a walking tour of haunted pubs and learn about the city's dark history.

Where to eat and drink after dark

The ultimate guide to late-night dining in Melbourne

The ultimate guide to late-night dining in Melbourne

These late-night venues and iconic restaurants are best visited well after dark.

The best pre- and post-theatre dining in Melbourne

The best pre- and post-theatre dining in Melbourne

Fuel up before a big show or extend your city visit at these local eateries.

Melbourne’s most romantic date-night restaurants

Melbourne’s most romantic date-night restaurants

Find the best restaurants to book for birthdays, anniversaries or just because.

Melbourne's best rooftop bars

Melbourne's best rooftop bars

Schedule in a rooftop sesh at Morris House, Good Heavens, Fable, Ocean 12 and more.

Melbourne's best cafes that open late

Melbourne's best cafes that open late

These Melbourne cafes are open late for evening coffee runs.

After dark dessert bars

After dark dessert bars

Discover Melbourne's best cakes, cocktails and sweet treats after the lights go down.

The best first date bars in Melbourne

The best first date bars in Melbourne

These cute hidden gems and fun date-night spots will give you something to talk about. 

Unique first date ideas in Melbourne

Unique first date ideas in Melbourne

Ban boring dates with these cute night spots and fun activities for two.

The best late-night bars and music venues in Melbourne

The best late-night bars and music venues in Melbourne

Find intimate vinyl bars, iconic band rooms and live music bars open late.

Curious

Curious

Curious pairs bold cocktails with a selection of small bites and sharing plates.

Stalactites Restaurant

Stalactites Restaurant

One of Melbourne’s longest established and best-known Greek restaurants.

Waiters Restaurant

Waiters Restaurant

Serving unfussy, home-style Italian food to a late-night crowd since 1947.

Gimlet at Cavendish House

Gimlet at Cavendish House

An elegant cocktail bar and dining room from renowned chef Andrew McConnell.

Bodega Underground

Bodega Underground

Bodega is a late night taqueria and underground mezcaleria in the basement of the Crossley Hotel.

Dragon Hot Pot

Dragon Hot Pot

Choose your base stock, then pick from over 100 fresh ingredients to make your own unique hotpot.

The George on Collins

The George on Collins

An up-market basement venue and eatery within the historic Georges building.

The Carlton Hotel

The Carlton Hotel

Offers a rooftop bar, dining, a cocktail bar and nightclub, right in the heart of the city.

Johnny's Green Room

Johnny's Green Room

A rooftop bar above King & Godfree with great views, tunes and Italian inspired food and drinks.

Flower Drum Restaurant

Flower Drum Restaurant

An iconic upscale Cantonese restaurant serving delicious food.

Nightlife

Nightlife

Dance the night away, sip cocktails in a stylish bar or catch some live music.​

Last updated on Fri 11 Jul 2025

Only In The City

Regent Theatre

Regent Theatre

This landmark theatre is one of Melbourne’s premier live performance venues.

MATRIA

MATRIA

Step inside a living, breathing pink bubble grown in the Royal Exhibition Building.

Only in the City

Only in the City

This city hums with energy - with hidden laneway cafes, rooftop bars, art and culture at every turn.

Discover more

Tolarno Galleries

Tolarno Galleries

One of Australia’s most stimulating exhibitors of contemporary art and design.

Melbourne’s most Instagrammable experiences

Melbourne’s most Instagrammable experiences

You won't need filters at the city's most photogenic spots.

Things you can only do in the city

Things you can only do in the city

There's only one place to find these rare Melbourne experiences and secret spots.

The best hotels in Melbourne for families

The best hotels in Melbourne for families

Check out our list of family-friendly hotel stays