Take a cultural tour of Melbourne’s world-class museums, edgy artist-run spaces and blockbuster exhibitions. All without spending a cent!

A large hall with a stained glass ceiling.

NGV International

Old and new, beautiful and challenging, NGV International brings a world of art to Melbourne. The city’s premier art gallery has an ever-changing slew of free exhibits to peruse. See powerful, contemporary art, design and architecture at NGV Triennial. Explore homegrown art and exhibitions at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV. Current exhibition, Rekospective features massive neon installations, larger-than-life sculptures, street art-inspired paintings and more by well known Kamilaroi artist, Reko Rennie.

A couple in a gallery looking up at a sign that says count down.

ACMI

From films to video games, ACMI celebrates screen culture past and present. Get behind the camera at ACMI’s free exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image. From the birth of film to today’s digital wonders, there’s more than a century of movie history to explore. And you can get hands-on at this fun cinema showcase, with animation and sound effects to play with.

Sculpture of anime character and paintings in a gallery.

Tolarno Galleries

For a small gallery, Tolarno sure has hosted some big names in art. Step inside this hidden space to see incredible exhibitions of contemporary art and design. The early days saw the likes of Picasso, Bonnard and Matisse gracing the walls of the gallery. More recently, art lovers admired works by legendary Aussie artist Patricia Piccinini. Whoever is showing, you're bound to see something special.

A wall covered in framed images and photographs and displayed very close together.

Art and Heritage Collection Tour

See a Foster's beer tower from the good old days, retro Moomba Monarch crowns and a bottle of spumante dating back to who knows when. For the first time ever, City of Melbourne's Art and Heritage Collection is opening its doors to the public for free guided tours. This is your chance to access to some of Melbourne’s most weird and wonderful treasures and historical archives.

Two people walking past a wall covered in concert posters.

Australian Music Vault

If you’re musically inclined, the Australian Music Vault is a must. It’s a great overview of Melbourne’s backstage sounds and stories. Watch rare footage and see iconic objects like Kylie Minogue’s stage outfits and notebooks belonging to Nick Cave. The free exhibition is permanently on show at Arts Centre Melbourne.

People walking past City Gallery, located within the Melbourne Town Hall building in Swanston Street.

City Gallery

The City Gallery presents free, quarterly exhibitions on city life; past and present. Pop in to the gallery at Melbourne Town Hall to see Elements of the city's collection, an eclectic range of 8000 artworks and artefacts.

Science Gallery

Science Gallery Melbourne

Melbourne's one and only Science Gallery is home to some of the most unusual art installations in town. Think live jellyfish and a machete-wielding houseplant. Discover fresh insights on science fiction with Mythologies Transformed. The exhibition weaves together science fiction with ancient philosophy and mythologies are brought to light through the work of Asian and First Nations women artists and collectives.

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA)

From music to educational talks, screenings and more the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) will have you coming back again and again. Spot the iconic rust-red building along Southbank and head in to explore local and international art. Keep an eye out for pop-up events and teachings.

The glass-panelled entrance to the Victorian Police Museum.

Victoria Police Museum

Explore the state's crime history at this free museum in Docklands. History buffs will be amazed by Australia's largest collection of Kelly Gang armour. Dig through major investigations and learn how animals have served in the police force all the way back to the 1960s.

Melbourne's best small, independent and artist-run galleries

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery

Curated contemporary art space in the iconic Nicholas Building.

Flinders Lane Gallery

Flinders Lane Gallery

Exhibiting collectable artworks and featuring solo exhibitions every three weeks.

Outre Gallery

Outre Gallery

Alternative art gallery specialising in lowbrow, pop surrealism and underground art.

West End Art Space

West End Art Space

A contemporary art gallery with a focus on living artists that strive for excellence.

ARC ONE Gallery

ARC ONE Gallery

A commercial gallery in Flinders Lane showing contemporary Australian art.

Gallerysmith

Gallerysmith

A contemporary art gallery on the city fringe with a focus on solo exhibitions.

Kings Artist-Run Initiative

Kings Artist-Run Initiative

Space for contemporary art practice and gallery showcasing experimental projects.

Neon Parc

Neon Parc

Commercial art gallery exhibiting a diverse range of contemporary art throughout the year.

Mystik River Gallery

Mystik River Gallery

Specialising in the ancient art of Indian sculpting.

Anna Schwartz Gallery

Anna Schwartz Gallery

The gallery represents over 30 established and emerging artists on individual projects.

Bridget McDonnell Gallery

Bridget McDonnell Gallery

A gallery exhibiting early and modern Australian art.

More free museums

College of Surgeons Museum

College of Surgeons Museum

An exhibition of surgical objects and memorabilia.

Victoria Police Museum

Victoria Police Museum

Explore the social history of policing through interactive displays and over 300 collection items.

Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre

Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre

A place of inspiration and vitality, that promotes the spirit and charism of Saint Mary MacKillop.

Medical History Museum

Medical History Museum

A free museum focusing on medicine's contribution to scientific discovery and community wellbeing.

The best free exhibitions

What's free in Melbourne this month

What's free in Melbourne this month

Everything to see, do and enjoy in Melbourne for free this month.

Hans Schiebold: Oceans and Urban Landscapes
Until

Hans Schiebold: Oceans and Urban Landscapes

An retrospective exhibition of paintings featuring ocean landscapes and well-known urban vistas

Free things to do with kids in Melbourne

Free things to do with kids in Melbourne

Get the kids out and explore these free events and adventures for an awesome day of fun.

Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie
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Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie

Reko Rennie's largest presentation of work to date and his first-ever retrospective exhibition.

The Pacific Sisters

The Pacific Sisters

Zoot suits and ActiVAtions take over Smorgon Family Plaza with the Pacific Sisters.

The Sky and Beyond
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The Sky and Beyond

Jessi Wong explores sky, light, and celestial phenomena in woodblock prints on Hosho paper.

Natured Studies
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Natured Studies

Natured Studies featuring Bazin, Grodin and Piggott.

Horse Costume Fight Scene: Lucy Mills
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Horse Costume Fight Scene: Lucy Mills

Emerging artist Lucy Mills debuts her newest body of work.

Amber-rose Hulme: Edited Reality

Amber-rose Hulme: Edited Reality

An exhibition that explores the notion that an objective sense of reality is inherently flawed.

Honk: Untitled Goose Exhibition
Until

Honk: Untitled Goose Exhibition

Explore the cheeky world of the iconic game with playable displays and behind-the-scenes insights.

Tais, Culture & Resilience: Woven Stories from Timor-Leste
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Tais, Culture & Resilience: Woven Stories from Timor-Leste

A textile and photographic exhibition celebrating 25 years of independence of Timor-Leste.

Taste of Combat
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Taste of Combat

Honouring the vital work of the Catering Corps and the evolution of military food.

Craig and Karl Cosmos
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Craig and Karl Cosmos

Celebrate Summer in the City with Melbourne Central and international artists Craig and Karl.

Matthew Ellery, Tracy Ellerton, Irene Christensen
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Matthew Ellery, Tracy Ellerton, Irene Christensen

Free art exhibition featuring music photography, painting and art books at West Melbourne gallery.

Horizons
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Horizons

Horizons invites audiences to explore the horizon line as both a literal and metaphorical construct.

Bark Salon
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Bark Salon

Bark Salon is a large-scale display of First Nations bark painting, with more than 160 works.

Steven Patterson: Origins
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Steven Patterson: Origins

An exhibition by Paddo (Steven Patterson) of intaglio and relief prints produced with handmade inks

Art Studio Exhibition

Art Studio Exhibition

This exhibition showcases the range of artistic practices and mediums taught at the VAS Art School.

Asia TOPA: Bread, Circuses and Home

Asia TOPA: Bread, Circuses and Home

An installation and performance series about migration by Delhi-based artist duo Thukral and Tagra.

Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair

Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair

The Festival of the Photocopier is a two-day zine fair with over 100 stalls celebrating zines.

Small
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Small

fortyfivedownstairs is excited to once again be hosting their open-call exhibition Small.

Designing Remembrance
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Designing Remembrance

Alternate visions for Victoria’s war memorial.

MoCo: Crepuscular Creature
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MoCo: Crepuscular Creature

An exhibition using fairies as an analogy to explore experiences of First Nations peoples.

RMIT Art Photography Graduate Exhibition
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RMIT Art Photography Graduate Exhibition

An exhibition celebrating the graduate projects of RMIT's photography students.

Immortals
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Immortals

Uncover the many faces of Victorian Digger memorials in this captivating photography exhibition.

The Museum of Falling
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The Museum of Falling

An exhibition at City Gallery curated by Patrick Pound.

Rain
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Rain

An intimate and interactive installation for you to experience together with your family.

Linda Studena: Head of State
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Linda Studena: Head of State

Head of State is an assembly of custom flags, each presented with cabbage and gardening motifs.

Tony Clark: Unsculpted
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Tony Clark: Unsculpted

A multifaceted overview of one of Australia’s most respected artists.

The Story of the Moving Image
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The Story of the Moving Image

An ongoing exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

Ribbon of Reflection
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Ribbon of Reflection

A garden installation inspired by the vibrant colours of Australian military medal ribbons.

What's free and what's open on the King's Birthday long weekend

What's free and what's open on the King's Birthday long weekend

Free events, winter markets, family-friendly activities and more.

Making Memoir of a Snail
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Making Memoir of a Snail

Explore handmade sets, props and characters from Adam Elliot's claymation film Memoir of a Snail.

Melbourne's Annual Wedding Expo

Melbourne's Annual Wedding Expo

With over 120 of Melbourne’s most creative and popular wedding suppliers and vendors.

Mita Chowdhury: My (M)otherland
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Mita Chowdhury: My (M)otherland

Experience paintings that reflect the artist's personal experience of uprootedness and displacement.

Memento Mori
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Memento Mori

A trio of public murals inspired by the Fates of Greek mythology, inspire passersby to embrace life.

November Exhibitions
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November Exhibitions

Visit the new art exhibition at Kings Artist Run during November.

Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed
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Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed

This exhibition highlights science fiction’s connection to ancient philosophy and mythologies.

Women Work for Victory in WWII
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Women Work for Victory in WWII

Explore the story of women on the home front during the Second World War.

Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis
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Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis

Relive Melbourne's culture and fashion through the lens of iconic photographer Rennie Ellis.

Last updated on Mon 28 Oct 2024

Christmas

Christmas things to do

Christmas things to do

Explore a wonderland of events and dazzling decorations as the city comes to life this Christmas.

Christmas eat and drink

Christmas eat and drink

Feeling festive? Sip mistletoe martinis at a rooftop bar or dine under the lights in a laneway.

Christmas shopping

Christmas shopping

Shop the city's iconic laneways, malls and arcades to find the perfect pressie.

Discover more

Free things to do in Melbourne every day

Free things to do in Melbourne every day

Have a grand day out on a budget at Melbourne's best free experiences, attractions and exhibits.

Buxton Contemporary

Buxton Contemporary

A hub for creative engagement showcasing the best of contemporary Australian and international art.

Melbourne's accessible and wheelchair-friendly attractions

Melbourne's accessible and wheelchair-friendly attractions

These local attractions are accessible for everyone to experience.

Workers Museum at Trades Hall

Workers Museum at Trades Hall

Workers museum showcasing the history of workers' rights.