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 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!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

A still from an animated film showing a black cat sitting on the bow of a small boat as it floats down a canal between Venetian Gothic buildings.
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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.

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.

A group of people on a guided walk of the Royal Botanic Gardens, with the tour guide pointing at plant specimen.
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Free Guided Walk

A free guided walk is the perfect way to enjoy the sunny weather in Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

A young child wearing a dressing gown, looking at an open picture book in her lap, blurred twinkling lights behind her.
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Bedtime Storytime

Hop into your pyjamas, grab your favourite teddy and enjoy bedtime stories.

The open-sided Explorer Bus at Royal Botanic Melbourne Gardens on a path with foliage.
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The Explorer Bus Melbourne

Discover the beauty of this inner-city oasis from the comfort of an open-air minibus.

Performer breathing fire with head tilted at an angle.
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The Vaudeville Revue: Cabaret, Comedy and Burlesque

Experience Melbourne's most intimate variety show in a hidden gem of the city.

Four cabaret performers surrounded by pink and yellow feather fans.
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Cabaret Ridiculous

An hour of variety entertainment that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.

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.

A person spooning food from a large salad bowl onto a plate they hold in their hands.
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Local Lunch Club

Live well, eat well, together at Kathleen Syme Library.

A violinist plays in St Paul's Cathedral.
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Lunchtime Concerts

Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral and fine music during a weekly lunchtime concert.

View of Melbourne from across the Yarra River
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G3 Game

Experience gaming like never before, with state-of-the-art facilities.

Three illuminated lamps with cylindrical parchment or fabric shades, decorated with various pressed flowers and small human figures.
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Pressed Flower Lamp Making Workshop

Make your room colourful and vibrant with your own pressed flower lamp.

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.