What's on in January

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Large crowd of people watching a concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Discover things to do in Melbourne in January, from free events to exhibitions, attractions and places to visit.

Installation view of the Spartans & Anzacs exhibition at the Shrine of Remembrance, with people walking around the space, reading panels and looking at displays.
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Spartans & Anzacs

This exhibition invites reflection on the enduring values forged in conflict.

A black and white photograph of a family eating a meal at the family dining table circa 1950.
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You Have a New Memory

An exhibition that explores how and why we remember, through the lens of the Library's collections.

Barbie dolls from an exhibition, specifically featuring a light-skinned doll with a 1959-inspired look and a dark-skinned doll with braided hair, against a pink background.
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Barbie: The Exhibition at Melbourne Museum

Barbie: The Exhibition makes its Australian debut at the Melbourne Museum.

Art photograph of a female floating on water viewed from above.
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Physis: Elemental Bodies

An exhibition of works by photographic artist Lilli Waters.

Kids on the grass outside the Shrine of Memorial, holding kit bags and smiling.
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Shrine Kids

Embark on a family adventure with this engaging program designed for discovery at every turn.

Mick Jagger tribute artist, singing into a microphone backlit by purple and pink lights.

Totally Stonez: The Rolling Stones Show

Capturing the sound, look and attitude that defined generations.

A dancer wears a vibrant green, light-up ballerina-style tutu dress with a matching crown, and large, glowing translucent fairy wings spread out behind her, standing against a dark background.
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Ballet of Lights: Peter Pan in a Sparkling Show

Peter Pan lights up Neverland in a dazzling dance spectacle.

Portrait of a woman with her face painted blue and embellished with gold stars, wearing a colourful, fan-like headdress.
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Passage: The Art of Atong Atem

NGV presents the first-ever major solo exhibition of contemporary artist Atong Atem.

Looking over a blurred shoulder at a table with books displayed.
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World of the Book

Experience the rare, the sacred and the iconic in this one-of-a-kind exibition.

Old black-and-white photo of people seated on a bus, two women chatting, a man looking straight ahead.
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The Green Bus

Exhibition tracing Andrew Chapman's 55-year photographic journey through the streets of Melbourne.

A live performance of The Cat Empire band alongside a full symphony orchestra on a large stage, in front of a seated audience.

The Cat Empire with Orchestra Victoria

Enjoy a night of live music at the Bowl when The Cat Empire performs with Orchestra Victoria.

A close up of a hand embroidered handkerchief showing a yellow star with blue outline and small floral motifs on a black fabric.
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Sparks in the Dark: 260 Weeks of Resilience

Celebrating the resilience of women living with the enduring impacts of the War in Afghanistan.

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.

Selection of cassette tapees with handmade covers.
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Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations

A stirring exhibition exploring romantic love through the State Library's extraordinary archive.

A person in a black suit holds a large, green ape head sculpture behind them, on a city sidewalk with graffiti-covered walls in the background.
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Rehearsing the City Exhibition

See archival photos from Victoria’s collections, plus work by contemporary street photographers.

A scene from a production of My Fair Lady on stage, with the cast dancing.
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My Fair Lady

Celebrating 70 glorious years since its debut, Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady returns to Melbourne.

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.

A tiered High Tea plate of savoury and sweet food served at Hello Kitty and Friends cafe.
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Hello Kitty and Friends High Tea

Enjoy a charming daily high tea, made for sharing little moments of joy with friends.

A wooden sculpture with flowing stripes made from dark and light wood.
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Plant Life: The Nature of Design

Plant Life: The Nature of Design explores humanity’s evolving relationship with the plant world.

A group of people in a circle listening to a speaker under a tree with a black van parked next to them.
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A Taste of Melbourne: Laneways, Boroughs, Bites and Brews

Taste the best of Melbourne on a half day city food and drink tour, departing morning or afternoon.

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.

Child looking over right shoulder with delighted smile, dark dinosaur model behind.

Melbourne Museum

Explore history, culture, science and nature at this popular Melbourne attraction.

Slice of strawberry cream cake.

Sweet Canteen

A desserts, pastries, and coffee shop hidden in the colourful Driver Lane.

A spoon being used to break into a cake like dessert on a ceramic plate.

Marameo

Marameo is a fun, easy-going Italian eatery offering a range of pasta and mains.

A small box featuring four filled biscuits with more biscuits scattered around on paper.

The Flour Melbourne

A French patisserie and cafe serving a mouth-watering selection of cakes, biscuits and pastries.

Tranquil scene of trees and lawn surrounding a lake.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

A picturesque haven for recreation and a key botanical resource for research and conservation.

Group of people on a walking tour of Melbourne.

Hidden Secrets Tours

Indulge and discover the city's hidden charm with Melbourne's original laneway walking tours.

The exterior of the cafe and cake shop Le Yeahllow, with people sitting outside on yellow benches and chairs on the city footpath, eating and drinking.

Le Yeahllow

This second Lt Bourke St branch serves artisan cake and coffee every day, for dine-in or to-go.

Two iced drinks, one coffee and one matcha, with the top of a match a cake visible and two forks on a napkin.

Tori’s

Artisan bakery in a hidden laneway.

Basement cocktail bar with small tables.

Beneath Driver Lane

A basement bar serving a wide range of cocktails, French bistro-style bar food with live music.

People socialising and standing at a bar, some seated on high bar stools.

Baby Driver

Vinyl spun jazz and funk, bold cocktails, wine and rotating guest chefs in a hidden laneway bar.

Gold-plated Eureka Tower skyscraper and cityscape against the city skyline and blue sky with clouds.

Melbourne Skydeck

This 300m high public observation deck captures everything that is special about Melbourne.

A cup of coffee on a wooden table in a cafe, a shelf in the background with bags of coffee for sale.

Rumble Espresso Bar

Brewing and serving a range coffee that is roasted just a block away.

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

City Gallery

City Gallery presents free exhibitions from City of Melbourne’s art and heritage collection.

Two children resting their hands on the glass water wall at NGV International.

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

Red cocktail in a short glass, garnished with mint and an orange slice, next to a bowl of crisps.

Bar Carlo

The menu is constantly rotating to ensure the freshest ingredients, served in a no fuss way.

Interior of Austro bakery with a customer seated at a bench seat against the wall underneath brightly coloured posters, eating; to the right of her are racks of baked goods and the service counter.

Austro Bakery

A sweet little neighbourhood bakery in North Melbourne.

The exterior of the Koorie Heritage Trust at Fed Square with a yellow KHT sign out the front.

Koorie Heritage Trust

An Australian First Peoples arts and cultural centre.

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.

Large, rectangular building of Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square.

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

The world’s first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art.

See all events in January

Discover more

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 night tennis match at Rod Laver Arena.

Major events

From the Australian Open to the Melbourne Cup, major events take centre stage throughout the year.

Young child, in front of an artsy background, looking up at something.

Family and kids

Find things to do with the kids, from family-friendly events to fun attractions and workshops.

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.