Festivals

Packed crowd of people cheering, holding their hands up, and watching an event outside.

There's always a festival going on in Melbourne, whether it's film, comedy, arts, music, food or design. Check out the current events below.

Two models stand smiling outdoors in vibrant, unconventional fashion ensembles.
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Melbourne Fashion Week

M/FW takes over the city from 19–25 October.

Illuminated panels with shades of red on a black background.
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Melbourne International Jazz Festival

A city-wide celebration of jazz, improvisation and boundary-pushing contemporary music.

A crowd of people at an outdoor event with market stalls.

RMIT City North Shared Futures Festival

Enjoy games, food and live performances celebrating community, creativity and innovation.

Rainbow lights on water jets and a giant bauble on the river at night.

The ultimate guide to Melbourne’s best Christmas events

Seek out Christmas movies, festive pop-ups, glittering decorations and more.

A woman eating fire from sticks with Fringe Festival lettering in the background in blue.
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Melbourne Fringe Festival

Melbourne Fringe Festival returns with 500+ exciting, boundary-pushing arts events.

A woman looking at a display of Formula 1 racing suits in an exhibition.

The best Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix events in Melbourne

Map out your perfect Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne.

A group of friends picnicking at the Music Bowl.

Melbourne's best blockbuster events

The best major events on in Melbourne this year.

Traditional Indonesian dancers at an Indonesian festival.

Festival Indonesia

Discover Indonesian culture, food, music, dance and family fun.

A laneway lit up with hanging fairy lights

The best hidden Christmas events and laneway pop-ups in Melbourne

Find the best laneway street parties, free workshops, pop-up events and gigs.

A group of older adults smiling and interacting at a table during a community gathering.
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Victorian Seniors Festival

Celebrate Victorian Seniors Festival with free and low-cost events for older Victorians.

A woman walking through a Christmas shop filled with white decorations.

Where to enjoy a European-style winter in Melbourne

Embrace the chill with warming treats, pop-ups and events worthy of a Northern Hemisphere winter.

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9 things in Melbourne you can only do in winter

Find the best festivals, markets and projections coming to Melbourne this winter.

Crowds looking at a festival stage in the city.

The best free festivals in Melbourne

The best free festivals you need to visit in Melbourne this year

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Alter State

A disability-led arts initiative celebrating Deaf and Disabled artists, creativity and culture.

Santa in front of a lit up Christmas tree in Fed Square.

Christmas in the city

See the city light up with dazzling displays, festive events and activities for the whole family.

A woman in a blue t-shirt and red bucket hat welcoming a child with arms wide.

Deaf Festival

Celebrating Deaf culture and connecting communities with stalls, entertainment and fun for all ages.

Flinders street station lit up in blue lights at night

7 things Melburnians will do even if it's raining

From AFL games and night markets to winter festivals and theatre shows.

See all festivals

Discover more

A line of woman holding guitars in an identical pose on a stage in front of a green curtain.
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Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy

NGV presents a major solo exhibition of Icelandic artist, Ragnar Kjartansson.

Two handmade gold engagement rings, one with a rectangular dark stone.
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Vena Amoris: Group Exhibition

An exhibition of engagement rings, inspired by beloved written texts that spark feelings of love.

A collection of strange but cute statuettes of small animals displayed on a green moss-covered multi-tier stand at a market stall.
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Ugly Cutie Market

A two-day art market bringing together over 130 artists, makers and wonderfully unusual creations.

Layered satin fabric in yellow and pink with embossed pattern.
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Design X Nature Artist-in-Residence: Pastures

Visit artist Cara Johnson as she adds to her artwork, Pastures.