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, Wurrdha Marra features art and design from First Nations peoples across time and place. Focusing on the importance of passing down cultural knowledge and also creating new forms of expression.

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 Melbourne

Deep dive into the unseen and the unknown at Dark Matters. The exhibition explores the fundamental essence of life and the universe. Focusing on language, light and technology. Melbourne's one and only Science Gallery is home to some of the most unusual art installations in town. With an aim to get young people excited about science. Their exhibitions are always evolving, keep your eyes peeled for the next one that pops up.

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.

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.

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.

Legacy of Ancient Greek Architecture in Melbourne

Legacy of Ancient Greek Architecture in Melbourne

A free talk tracing Melbourne's architectural history from the 1840s to today.

The best free exhibitions

Nadine Christensen: Around
Until

Nadine Christensen: Around

Celebrate the tangle of art and life in this major survey exhibition.

NGV Architecture Commission: (This is) Air
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NGV Architecture Commission: (This is) Air

The NGV 2023 Architecture Commission is a large-scale installation that makes the invisible visible.

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.

NGV Triennial

NGV Triennial

NGV Triennial returns in 2023 with a powerful and moving snapshot capturing the world today.

Myer Christmas Windows
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Myer Christmas Windows

This festive season, the annual Myer windows display celebrates Bluey.

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.

Carlton Arts Centre: Exhibition and Pottery Sale

Carlton Arts Centre: Exhibition and Pottery Sale

The Carlton Arts Centre's closing down pottery and ceramics sale and exhibition.

Wedding and Bride Summer Expo

Wedding and Bride Summer Expo

Visit Australia’s premier bridal event to find everything you need to plan your wedding day.

Trenches to Runway
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Trenches to Runway

Explore the rich connections between uniforms from the battlefield and iconic fashion staples.

International Collection Highlights Tour
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International Collection Highlights Tour

Explore some of the highlights of the NGV's International Collection with an NGV guide.

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.

Botanic Art Market

Botanic Art Market

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens present their inaugural pop-up art sale.

For Kin and Country
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For Kin and Country

Explore the extraordinary history of First Peoples’ service in the Australian Defence Force.

Bliss: An Exhibition
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Bliss: An Exhibition

Acclaimed skateboarding artist Brett Ashby presents artworks from the past decade.

November Exhibitions
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November Exhibitions

See three new exhibitions at Kings this month.

Kate Ballis and Tom Blachford: Influorescence
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Kate Ballis and Tom Blachford: Influorescence

A collaboration between creative and life partners Kate Ballis and Tom Blachford.

Liam Young: Planetary Redesign
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Liam Young: Planetary Redesign

Visit the first major Australian solo exhibition by speculative architect Liam Young.

What's free and what's open on the June long weekend

What's free and what's open on the June long weekend

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

MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission: Bethan Laura Wood

MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission: Bethan Laura Wood

An installation that delves into the gendered history of education and transfer of knowledge.

Here Lives Our Culture
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Here Lives Our Culture

Explore an exhibition showcasing treasures from the University's Rare East Asian Collection.

Newsworthy: Melbourne in Photographs 1933-1936
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Newsworthy: Melbourne in Photographs 1933-1936

View a selection of printed images documenting Melbourne in the 1930s.

Playroom

Playroom

Playroom is an exhibition of trans and gender diverse artists exploring queerness in childhood.

Studio 11: Dinah Ninio
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Studio 11: Dinah Ninio

An exhibition of paintings and ceramics by Dinah Ninio.

Emma Lyn Winkler: Worm Food

Emma Lyn Winkler: Worm Food

An exhibition exploring death and its associated states of mind.

Memo Akten: Distributed Consciousness
Until

Memo Akten: Distributed Consciousness

A digital work merging human and non-human consciousness – via the AI musings of octopus critters.

This Might Just Pass The Time
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This Might Just Pass The Time

An exhibition reflecting on the experience of being unable to locate a sense of the present moment.

Chimera: Graduate Exhibition
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Chimera: Graduate Exhibition

Explore captivating and imaginate illustrative works by talented emerging illustrators.

Belongings: Objects and Family Life
From

Belongings: Objects and Family Life

An exhibition looking at some of the objects that have shaped family in Australia over the decades.

Watercolour Country: 100 Works from Hermannsburg
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Watercolour Country: 100 Works from Hermannsburg

Discover watercolours of Australian landscapes by artists working at Hermannsburg over generations.

Invocations
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Invocations

Delve into the realm of living objects with Invocations, guest curated by Zaiba Khan.

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.

Eunjoo Jang: Blended Reality
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Eunjoo Jang: Blended Reality

View an exhibition that explores the concept of blended reality.

Kylie Watson: Love Letter
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Kylie Watson: Love Letter

View an exhibition of artist books that reference the artist’s heart.

Brent Harris: The Stations
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Brent Harris: The Stations

An exhibition of art works by Brent Harris.

Toys, Tales and Tenacity
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Toys, Tales and Tenacity

This first-of-its-kind exhibition at the Shrine delves into the experiences of children during war.

Dolphin and Grace: The Exhibition
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Dolphin and Grace: The Exhibition

Portraits of famous people by Dolphin Jones meet abstract landscapes by Wendy Grace.

Colonial Confusion
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Colonial Confusion

An exhibition that presents a faux-museological tableau that is as confusing as it is unsettling.

Protest Melbourne
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Protest Melbourne

An exhibition about Victoria's long history of public protest.

Everyone's Heard of a Dragon
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Everyone's Heard of a Dragon

A guest curated show at Craft Victoria exploring fantasy in craft and design practices.

Last updated on Tue 31 Oct 2023

Christmas

Christmas events

Christmas events

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

Christmas eat and drink

Christmas eat and drink

Savour the season with festive feasts and rooftop drinks. Read on for Christmas catch-up ideas.

Christmas shopping

Christmas shopping

Wrap up your Christmas list and find the perfect pressies with thousands of shops to choose from.

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.

Melbourne’s best student discounts, deals and freebies

Melbourne’s best student discounts, deals and freebies

Find cheap feasts, coffee deals and free or discounted entry to some of Melb’s iconic attractions.

Melbourne's accessible and wheelchair-friendly attractions

Melbourne's accessible and wheelchair-friendly attractions

These local attractions are accessible for everyone to experience.

Hellenic Museum

Hellenic Museum

Discover Greek art, history and culture, both ancient and contemporary.