Melbourne's unmissable winter events

The weather may be cooling down, but Melbourne’s calendar is heating up. Grab the diary – you’ll want to lock in every one of these major events.

Two women walking through a cut out of Mickey Mouse ears

Explore the magic of Disney at ACMI

13 May - 17 Oct

Discover the magic behind almost 100 years of Disney in this Australia-first exhibition. Spot beloved classics and new favourites like Moana and Frozen amongst more than 500 original sketches and rare artworks. You can even step inside a scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

The Winter Village

13 May - 29 Aug

Melbourne's magical winter wonderland returns for a bumper three month season. Embrace the chilly season with igloo dining, ice skating, espresso martinis and more. Tuesdays offer 2-for-1 entry to the rink, and you can book igloo brunches on weekends for early access.

The entrance to a night market with a glowing red neon sign at the entrance

Winter Night Market

9 Jun - 25 Aug

Melbourne's most iconic night market is back for a bumper 13-week season. Fuel up on BBQ, cheesy pasta, hot chocolate and mulled wine from pop-up food stalls. Shop with the best local makers at stalls selling everything from art to homewares. And don't miss the market's Christmas in July series, complete with eggnog, carollers and Christmas trees!

Igloo domes with dining set ups inside them

Igloo Wonderland at The Wharf Hotel

21 May - 12 Sep

Glittering on the edge of the Yarra, Melbourne's original igloo pop-up is back for another year. Book ahead at The Wharf Hotel and cosy up in your private igloo. Then settle in for mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate, epic foodie platters and more.

A couple walking through a light display

Imaginaria

2 Feb - 11 Jul

A blissful escape from the outside world, this dreamy pop-up projection wonderland is like a maze for the modern era. The fully interactive exhibition takes visitors on a journey that incites all five senses. Head down to explore endless rooms filled with dizzying projections, inflatable light tunnels and neon rainbow displays.

Unmissable theatre

Witness wizarding magic at Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. Book ahead for the upcoming season of Moulin Rouge, or become completely immersed in the eerie masterpiece Because the Night. Kids young and old will love family favourite Frozen, which also lands in Melbourne this June.

A French Impressionist painting of a woman holding a parasol reclining on grass with a child running away from her in the background.

French Impressionism at the NGV

4 Jun - 3 Oct

Dreaming of a trip to Paris? Get one step closer with the NGV's latest exhibition on French Impressionism. This exclusive collection contains 100 masterworks, 79 of which have never been exhibited in Australia before. Featuring the work of Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Camille Pissarro.