Flinders Street Station lit up in blue lights at night for Rising festival.
Until

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.
–

RISING: Melbourne

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

People looking at stalls at a market in Royal Exhibition Building.
–

The Big Design Market: Almost Winter

Enjoy a showcase of over 250 independent Australian designers, with delicious food and wine.

An outdoor alpine village pop-up event at Fed Square at night, featuring private wooden chalets, string lights, and a red carpet.
Until

Fondue Chalet

Melbourne’s much-loved winter dining experience returns to Fed Square.

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.
Until

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.
Until

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.
Until

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.
Until

Mosaic Art Classes: Turkish Lamp Workshop

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

A person pouring out a measure of Aperol into a metal measuring cup.
Until

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
Until

Music Documented: ACMI Cinemas

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

Three people walking with a Fit City tour guide through a leafy laneway in central Melbourne.
Until

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.

An outdoor farmers' market located in the Docklands area, with stalls selling fresh produce, people wandering around, and Marvel Stadium in the background.
Until

Docklands Waterfront Farmers' Market

The monthly Docklands Waterfront Farmers' Market returns to Harbour Esplanade.

A small tour group looking up from the ground floor of the La Trobe Reading Room.
Until

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.
Until

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.
Until

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.
Until

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.
Until

Rituals: Gifts for the Gods

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

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

Stellar Nights

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

An Incan sun mask lying on greenery, part of the Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City virtual reality experience.
Until

Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City

A 4D virtual reality experience that lets you explore the Incan citadel in the Peruvian Andes.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
Until

The Story of the Moving Image

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

Novelty wind-up chattering teeth against a yellow background.
Until

Basement Comedy Club: Weekend Showcase

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

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

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.
Until

Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service

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

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.

Australian Aboriginal political activist Robbie Thorpe, holding a microphone in front of the Aboriginal flag.
Until

Library Cinema at narrm ngarrgu

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

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

Imaginator

An immersive experience that celebrates imagination, technology and play.

An abstract artwork with red, white, black and yellow lines.
Until

Matthew Simpson: Serendipitous Painting

Artist Matthew Simpson's fifth solo exhibition showing high impact abstracts and graphic animation.

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.
Until

Making Modern Melbourne

This free exhibition examines the tumultuous twentieth century in Melbourne.

Four rows of people sitting smiling and laughing.
Until

Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

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

People milling around a bar that's illuminated with red lights.
Until

Thursday Linguas Melbourne Language Exchange and Social

Meet new people and practise speaking another language.

Small theatre venue with blue-lit curtains, lighting rigs and seating.

Jake's Birthday Bash

With 10 comics for 10 bucks, come along to the big stand-up show at Club Voltaire.

Two different hands holding two wine glasses, resting on a restaurant's dining table, a plate of food and napkins also on the table.
Until

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 group of smiling participants in a studio workshop setting, holding glass-domed terrariums.
Until

Serene Terrarium: Workshop for Beginners

Create your mini plant world while enjoying a soothing cuppa and a calming environment.

A green linocut of a flower and foliage printed on paper and a fabric tote bag.
Until

Tote Bag Block Printing Workshop

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

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

Eurydice

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

Four people on a tour of Arts Centre Melbourne, seated in a foyer, with a large mural behind them.
Until

Arts Centre Melbourne Tours

Explore the rich heritage and striking architecture of Victoria’s performing arts icon.

A colourful woven artwork with different textures and patterns representing a map.
Until

Hyperworlds: Unreal Cartography

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

See all events in May

Discover more

A colourful UV light display in the Royal Botanic Gardens at night.
–

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.