Major events

Featured

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

The NGV and Arts Centre lit up on a winter night.

What's on this weekend in Melbourne

Discover things to do in Melbourne this weekend, from free events to exhibitions.

A family are walking through a forest at night which is lit up in neon colourful lights

Melbourne's best blockbuster events

The best major events on in Melbourne this year.

Festivals and events

The red-lit interior of the Royal Exhibition Building, with people seated on the plastic-covered floor.
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Now or Never

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

A group of six actors and actresses standing in a line in front of a purple branding board with MIFF printed on it.
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Melbourne International Film Festival

Experience eye-opening cinema at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Flinders Street Station lit up in blue at dusk during Melbourne's RISING festival, with city buildings in the background.
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RISING: Melbourne

A festival of new art, music and performance in the heart of Naarm/Melbourne each winter.

Inside a bustling market hall

Things you can only see in the city

Uncover secret rooms, historic architecture and iconic landmarks found only in the city.

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.

An aerial shot of Melbourne city with the MCG in the foreground on a sunny day.
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What's on in September

Things to do in Melbourne in September, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.

A view over Melbourne by night, with buildings lit up.

New Year's Eve in Melbourne

From fireworks to fancy dinners and family fun, Melbourne is the perfect place to celebrate NYE.

Red fireworks over the city viewed from a floating bar with umbrellas and lanterns.

The best restaurants to book for New Year's Eve

Book a restaurant, find fireworks near you and plan the best New Year's Eve in Melbourne.

A neon light display of Santa's sleigh being pulled by kangaroos.

The ultimate guide to Melbourne's best Christmas lights and decorations

Where to see stunning Christmas trees, the best Christmas lights and more beautiful decorations.

Two friends are seating outside a small cafe kiosk there is a sign saying mork chocolate

The best Easter offers, high teas and events in Melbourne

Find Easter high teas, dining deals, events and more

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.

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.

Markets

Smiling vendor selling a range of pastries, dips and spreads at Queen Victoria Market.

Queen Victoria Market

This beloved Melbourne landmark is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere.

Crowds milling around the Vic Market sheds at sunset.

The ultimate guide to Melbourne's best markets

Explore Melbourne's iconic markets.

Long line of tables covered in books.

Melbourne Book Market

Melbourne Book Market is a curated collection of more than 5,000 new and pre-loved titles.

People walking towards a red illuminated archway that reads Winter Night Market.
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Winter Night Market

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

A glowing archway of red lights in a garden at night.

9 things in Melbourne you can only do in winter

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

Bright artwork related to the Pokémon character Hakamo-o.

Dinomart X Fortress Pride Art Market

A Pride Art Market with activities, games, artist vendors and a Drag Cosplay Catwalk.

A crowded scene within the Queen Victoria Market, featuring various banners for a craft fair and market called 'CRFT*WRK'
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CRFT*WRK Market

Enjoy a monthly craft fair at Queen Victoria Market.

Aerial view of an interior market with stalls selling clothing and raft, and many people walking around and shopping in the space.

Boho Luxe Market: Christmas Edition

A design market full of handmade, ethically sourced products.

People walking past rows of outdoor market stalls with umbrellas and trees.
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Docklands Waterfront Farmers' Market

Showcasing fresh produce, market eats and live entertainment on Harbour Esplanade.

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.

Selection of market goods including packets of teas and biscuits.
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Kensington Market

An eclectic mix of homewares, culinary treats, ceramics, sustainable goods and visual art.

Vintage Melbourne tram parked next to an outdoor market stall at night.

Winter Market

Join in a welcoming winter celebration filled with food, entertainment and community spirit.

Family events

Girl looking out at mini village display in the garden.

The best free and cheap family activities

Find family-friendly fun and free events in Melbourne.

A family looking at a circular tank filled with jellyfish in an aquarium.

Melbourne's best rainy day activities for kids

Find the best indoor family activities during the school holidays.

A young boy and girl pointing to triceratops bones in the Museum.

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.

A girl and a boy reaching their hands out to touch a glass wall water feature.
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School holidays

Entertain the whole family over the school holidays with these kid-friendly events and activities.

A small playground on a sunny day

The best playgrounds in Melbourne

We've rounded up the best adventure parks and playgrounds.

A magician holding a crystal ball against a purple background.
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Melbourne Magic Festival

Casting its spell with performances and workshops for all ages this winter.

Large lettering saying FIRELIGHT above a stage at the Firelight Festival with two large flames shooting into the air at either end.
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Firelight Festival

Melbourne’s epic winter festival returns to Docklands for three fiery nights.

Bluey stage show human and puppet cast with tree background.
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Bluey's Big Play

This is Bluey brought to real life as you’ve never seen it before.

Young kid sitting on the shoulders of an adult in a large crowd of people watching a show.

Melbourne for free

Discover free things to do in Melbourne, including galleries, museums, events and festivals.

A dark interior space, with smoky purple rounds of light, silhouettes of people's arms pushing into these open spaces.
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Imaginator

An immersive experience that celebrates imagination, technology and play.

Everything you need to do in Melbourne this Christmas

Everything you need to do in Melbourne this Christmas

Plan your festive adventures every week in the leadup to Christmas.

Hawthorn AFL fans with banners in the stands during a match.

AFL Round 13: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs

Come along to the 'G to watch Hawthorn host the Western Bulldogs live under the lights.

Theatre & musicals

The exterior of a city theatre lit up pink at night.

The ultimate theatre guide to Melbourne

What's on in Melbourne's theatres, clubs, cabaret bars and comedy spots.

A train station lit up in rainbow lights

Melbourne's best drag shows and queer-friendly venues

Find burlesque life drawing, cabaret and the best queer-friendly venues in Melbourne.

Visitors enjoying an evening event at the National Gallery of Victoria, seated on stools under shadowy lighting.
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NGV Friday Nights: Cartier

NGV Friday Nights shine with Cartier, featuring live music, flims, food and drinks.

The full cast of the musical Book of Mormon on stage singing and dancing, with a painted sky coloured background and other theatre props.
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The Book of Mormon

Australia’s biggest ever musical comedy returns this February.

Female cast members from the musical Pride & Prejudice performing in Regency style costumes on a stage, all wearing yellow rubber gloves and singing into microphones they are holding.
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Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

The musical comedy sensation, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), premieres in Melbourne.

Characters from the PAW Patrol TV series performing live on a theatre stage, with streamers in the air above them and a large audience watching them.
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PAW Patrol Live: Race to the Rescue

The beloved pups of PAW Patrol hit the stage in this interactive live show.

A silhouette of a person dancing on a stage with a pink floor, in front of screens displaying the words "ONE LAST PASS"
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Heartbreak Hotel

The sold-out RISING hit Heartbreak Hotel returns to steal your heart again.

The entrance to the Piccolo Teatro Magic Theatre with a neon sign above the rustic wooden door.
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Smoke and Mirrors

Step into an intimate evening of sleight of hand, mentalism, dark storytelling and moody ambience.

Actor Sarah Ruhl posing with her hand on her face and looking blankly ahead in a dark navy room.
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Eurydice

A luminous, poetic reimagining of the Greek myth, directed by multi-award-winner Gary Abrahams

A seated group of improv comedians, all looking seriously at the camera.
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Improvised Comedy: The Remix

Improvised comedy from true stories, sampled and remixed to create comedy gold.

Performer Magical Katrina, seated on the ground wearing a blue dress surrounded by decks of playing cards and other magic props.
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Magical Katrina The Whimsical Witch

Starring Magical Katrina, direct from Hollywood

Mid-face downwards view of a creature in a grey overcoat with an elephant's head.
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Ganesh Versus the Third Reich

After 15 years touring the world, Back to Back Theatre’s legendary production returns to Melbourne.

Music and gigs

A museum visitor in an exhibition space using a screen, surrounded by display objects.

Australian Music Vault

A celebration of Australian contemporary music – past, present and future.

A busker performing in the street playing an electric guitar with his head facing downwards looking at the instrument.
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Bourke Street Mall Busking

Meet Melbourne's marvellous musicians and more in the iconic Bourke Street Mall busking program.

A stage with a grand facade to look like a building, with crowds waiting for a band to come on stage.

The ultimate Melbourne live gig guide

Concert halls and music venues hosting live music this week

Exhibitions and Expos

People walking around the outdoor balcony area in front of the Royal Exhibition Dome.

Royal Exhibition Building Dome Promenade

The Royal Exhibition Building opens its doors to a unique view unseen for 100 years.

Exterior of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at dusk with people crossing the road in front.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Big ideas, bold experiences...this is where Melbourne’s most exciting events come to life.

Two individuals talking to each other inside Melbourne Museum at night, with blue lighting.
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Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

Experience Melbourne Museum after hours, when the doors stay open and the night belongs to adults.

Black and white photograph of a busy Melbourne city intersection with trams, cars, people crossing the road, and buildings, dating from around the 1950s or 1960s.
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Making Modern Melbourne

This free exhibition examines the tumultuous twentieth century in Melbourne.

Two people standing in front of a large pink spiky wall of speakers in an exhibition space.
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The Vinyl Factory: Reverb

ACMI and RISING present The Vinyl Factory: Reverb, a major exhibition of vinyl culture and music.

A colourful woven artwork with different textures and patterns representing a map.
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Hyperworlds: Unreal Cartography

An exhibition from Allanah Sarafian exploring maps as emotional and ideological objects.

An obscure image with monochrome tones resembling plumes of smoke.
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Kate Hunter: Unicellular

Unicellular intersects personal stories with sounds and images that reflect the overlooked.

An ancient Roman marble bust with its nose chipped off, displayed on a small square plinth.
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Rome: Empire, Power, People

This Melbourne-exclusive exhibition is a vibrant exploration of Ancient Rome.

A black mannequin displaying the gold hot pants and halter top worn by Kylie Minogue in her famous music video, Spinning Around.
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Encore!

50 Objects. 50 Years. One Collection. Treasures from the Australian Museum of Performing Arts.

An exquisite Cartier diamond tiara, suspended against a black background.
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Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: CARTIER

Featuring nearly 400 extraordinary jewellery objects, alongside rare archival materials.

Inside a large, darkened gallery space with projected artwork on the walls and a single person viewing.
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Occupation Studies: ngayanhurra bayarral Birrarung

A new multichannel audiovisual artwork by artist Tahlia Palmer.

A black and white detail of a bridge pylon showing metal and stone construction.
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Greg Branson: Manifesto Melbourne

This exhibition invites viewers to see Melbourne through the lens of influential photographers.

Sport

Crowd of seated AFL fans wearing Big Freeze branded beanies.

AFL Round 13: Collingwood v Melbourne

The Big Freeze game between Collingwood and Melbourne is celebrating its 12th anniversary.

A large group of people in active wear all running on a path in park.
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Run the Tan: Run Club

Start the weekend off on the right foot with a run around the Tan.

Western Bulldogs AFL fans in the stands during a match.

AFL Round 14: Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows

Rewind and come along to Retro Round on Thursday at Marvel Stadium.

An ice hockey player in blue, skating on an ice hockey rink.
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Melbourne Ice: Australian Ice Hockey League

The Melbourne Ice are gearing up to face off against the best in the nation's premier league.

Essendon AFL football player running with the yellow ball during a match.

AFL Round 13: Essendon v Carlton

Celebrate the long weekend on King’s Birthday Eve by watching Essendon play Carlton live at the 'G.

St Kilda AFL football player with the ball during a match.

AFL Round 15: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs

Come along to Marvel Stadium on Sunday, when the Western Bulldogs take on St Kilda.

A giant blow up Sherrin football in a park.

AFL fan's guide to the footy in Melbourne

Find the best spots to watch the footy and grab a feed before the game.

The concrete arched entrance to the Grey Goose Racquet Club, with patrons standing on synthetic turf under the shade of trees.
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Crown Racquet Club

A high-energy fusion of world-class padel, waterfront atmosphere and unmistakable Crown polish.

Discover more

Christmas tree and decorations at Fed Square at night.
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What's on in December

Things to do in Melbourne in December, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.

Large crowd of people watching a concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
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What's on in January

Things to do in Melbourne in January, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.

Crowd of people seated on the grass watching the Moonlight Cinema in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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What's on in February

Things to do in Melbourne in February, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.

A Ferris wheel lit up with LED lights at night.
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What's on in March

Things to do in Melbourne in March, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.