Flinders Street Station lit up in blue lights at night for Rising festival.
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What's on in May

Dates

1 May - 31 May

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

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.

A seated audience in an auditorium, seen from above.
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Melbourne Writers Festival

A four-day celebration of more than 150 visionary writers and storytellers that shape our world.

A line up of dignitaries and celebrities, including Michael Long, cutting a ceremonial ribbon.

The Long Walk: Naarm

A First Nations event with entertainment, cultural activities and the iconic Long Walk to the G.

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.

People looking up at the trees on a guided walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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Aboriginal Heritage Walk

Wominjeka: journey into Melbourne Gardens with an Aboriginal guide.

A person wearing blue rubber gloves creating an Ikebana arrangement, which is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging.
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Botanica 001: Ikebana Workshop

A contemporary ikebana workshop exploring form, balance and negative space in an intimate setting.

Four women standing and holding up small mosaic lamps in front of a circular neon sign.
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Mosaic Art Classes: Turkish Lamp Workshop

Make beautiful mosaic lamps at this Turkish lamp workshop in Melbourne!

Front view of a pink and purple stylized Chevrolet with its engine bonnet open, set against a solid black background.

Ethics Tune Up: Ethics 101

Take your ethical skills to the next level in this two-hour masterclass.

A person seated at a table doing embroidery, with soft fabrics, scissors and thread on the table.
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Hyperfocus Masterclass Series

Interactive sessions that focus on hands-on experimentation and play that will make time fly by.

A person pouring out a measure of Aperol into a metal measuring cup.
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Cocktail Making Class

Mix, shake and sip your way through the ultimate cocktail class in a hidden Melbourne bar.

A black and white image of John Lennon playing guitar behind Yoko Ono
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Music Documented: ACMI Cinemas

A sonic journey through the music genres and musicians that defined generations.

The back of a conductor in front of a choir all dressed in black with books open.

Mass of Deliverance

Dan Walker’s brings a local voice to MSO's contemporary choral program.

A musician holding a violinist under his arm, seated on a surreal natural setting featuring acacia wattle and gum leaves, as if floating in space against a pale background.
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Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Overgrown Paths

Violinist Sophie Rowell and Helen Morse lead a luminous fusion of poetry and music.

Singers Paulini and Tim Campbell on stage with a back-up singer and a projection of bright neon stars behind them.

Electrifying 80s

Grab your crew and don't miss an unforgettable night with this dynamic live concert experience.

Three people walking with a Fit City tour guide through a leafy laneway in central Melbourne.
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History and Donuts Walking Tour

History, laneways and donuts – explore Melbourne’s sweet side on this 2.5-hour walking tour.

A purple traffic light with pink, yellow, and teal lights against a black background.

Ethics Tune Up: The Future of Morality

If you feel like the moral ground is shifting beneath you, come along to this interactive talk.

A small tour group looking up from the ground floor of the La Trobe Reading Room.
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State Library Victoria Unlocked

On this exclusive tour, gain access to State Library Victoria before the doors open to the public.

A tour guide talking to people in the Carlton Gardens, autumn leaves on the grass, the Royal Exhibition Building just visible in the background.
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Badass Women of Melbourne: Women's History Walking Tour

Take a guided walk to uncover the hidden stories of everyday women who shaped Melbourne.

Interior of a bar decorated with colourful lamps, small paintings hanging on the red walls, with small tables and chairs arranged in the space.
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Melbourne Hidden Bars Walking Tour

Discover Melbourne's hidden bars – down alleys, in basements and behind closed doors.

Vintage black and white photograph of a young Oscar Wilde, wearing a velvet blazer and holding a book while resting his head on one hand.

Oscar Wilde: ‘I can Resist Everything Except Temptation’

Join Susannah Fullerton for a lecture exploring the writer, Oscar Wilde.

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.

Two children looking at ancient Grecian artefacts on display in a glass cabinet.
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Rituals: Gifts for the Gods

An exclusive international exhibition exploring the rituals and mysteries of ancient Greece.

An oil painting of the French royal family eating a sumptuous feast on the eve of the Revolution, with an audience looking on.

Illicit Pleasures: Food and Feasts in French Art, Literature

Join Sylvia Sagona for a lecture exploring the relationship between French food, art and literature.

Interior dashboard and steering wheel of a vintage car, rendered in a stylised monochromatic purplish tone.

Ethics Tune Up: How to Live a Good Life

Take your ethical skills to the next level and learn how to do life just that little bit better.

A large crowd of people in the seats at the MCG all looking upwards and smiling in warm clothing.

Sleep at the 'G

A sleepover at the iconic MCG to help end youth homelessness.

Classical musicians wearing black, holding their instruments.

Beethoven's Ghost

A new piano trio takes flight to discover Beethoven’s Ghost’and Ravel’s haunting masterpiece.

A person with blue hair at a vending machine as another person directs them on how to use it.
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Loopy Lab

See how plastic waste is a resource by making your own pen or carabiner from plastic bottle tops.

A man looking into the eyepiece of a large telescope, pointed towards the night sky at the Melbourne Observatory.
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Stellar Nights

Embark on a journey through time and space with this guided tour at the Observatory.

American saxophonist and composer Isaiah Collier, wearing dark sunglasses and a beanie, black and white image.
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Collier Plays Coltrane

Hear Chicago's tenor saxophonist Isaiah Collier perform Coltrane in a show not to be missed.

The interior of State Library Victoria's iconic Domed Reading Room during a nighttime event.

Library Up Late x RISING

Immerse yourself in a night dedicated to inspiration and imagination at State Library Victoria.

Novelty wind-up chattering teeth against a yellow background.
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Basement Comedy Club: Weekend Showcase

Bringing you the biggest names and best comedians in the country, and beyond.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
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The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

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.

A person in army uniform kneeling and laying a wreath of flowers where other flowers have been placed.
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Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service

A commemoration to honour First Nations Defence personnel, past and present.

A still from the movie, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, showing Johnnie Depp and Leonardo Di Caprio in character as Gilbert and his developmentally disabled brother.
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Library Cinema at narrm ngarrgu

Each month, watch a movie on the big screen, including contemporary, classic and documentary films.

Four rows of people sitting smiling and laughing.
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Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

Enjoy stand-up comedy from future stars and celebrity guest headliners.

An early watercolour painting of Melbourne's Yarra River.
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Yarra: Stories of Melbourne's River

Explores the chequered history of the stream we call the ‘city’s river’.

Two different hands holding two wine glasses, resting on a restaurant's dining table, a plate of food and napkins also on the table.
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Mystery Sidedoor City: Wine and Asian Fusion Bites

Enjoy off-menu bites and paired drinks at a hidden Melbourne venue on this guided tasting adventure.

Spanish flamenco dancers swirling the skirts of their brightly coloured dresses.

Spanish Language Fiesta: 10 Years of Culture

A vibrant Spanish cultural festival with live music, dance, food and interactive experiences.

A green linocut of a flower and foliage printed on paper and a fabric tote bag.
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Tote Bag Block Printing Workshop

Style your bag just the way you like it with block printing in this beginner's workshop.

See all events in May

Discover more

A colourful UV light display in the Royal Botanic Gardens at night.
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What's on in June

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

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.

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.

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.