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Open Air Brings a Month of Free Music, Film and Performance Back to Fed Square
Open Air returns to Federation Square this February with free live music, outdoor cinema, dance and performance unfolding across select summer nights in the city.
February brings a subtle reset to Melbourne’s evenings. Diaries loosen, chance plans feel more appealing, and the city’s shared spaces start doing heavier cultural lifting. This summer, that focus turns to Federation Square with the return of Open Air, a four-week program of free music, cinema and performance running from 2nd to 28th February.
While Open Air spans the month, events unfold across select dates rather than nightly programming, encouraging both forward planning and spontaneous drop-ins. The Square becomes a rotating stage — sometimes intimate, sometimes collective — shaped by access rather than exclusivity. There are no tickets to chase, no prescribed way to take it in. Just arrive, see what’s on, and stay as long as the night allows.
Music shapes much of the program. From 10th to 12th February, the Candlelight Concert Series returns, framing three evenings of live performance beneath thousands of flickering candles set against the city skyline. Folk Bitch Trio, Dean Brady and Tina Arena each headline a night, with Arena’s THANK YOU MELBOURNE show forming part of her 5.0 Tour, marking 50 years in music with a home-city performance that carries weight well beyond the setlist. All live music events are Auslan interpreted, with accessible viewing areas provided.
Earlier in the month, Garage Band returns on 7th February, spotlighting Victoria’s next wave of musicians. Delivered in collaboration with artist JOF, the multi-stage event combines workshops, mentorship and a full day of live performance — less a showcase than a commitment to the city’s creative future. For audiences, it’s a chance to encounter emerging talent at street level, before the names travel further afield.
As February unfolds, the program widens its scope. On 21st February, Afro Caribbean Carnival fills the Square with sound, colour and shared momentum, led by Sister Nancy and General Levy alongside local sound systems. On 27th February, Big Freedia headlines a night celebrating queer artistry and self-expression, bringing the pulse of New Orleans bounce to the centre of the city. The live music calendar culminates on 28th February with François K, Σtella and Ganavya Live, whose genre-crossing performances place Melbourne audiences in direct contact with global artists.
A late-summer curveball arrives on 26th February with The Beatles Dub Club, reworking the world’s most familiar catalogue into a genre-hopping DJ set spanning reggae, dub, funk, Latin influences, hip hop and house. After appearances at Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight, the London collective brings its playful, dancefloor-ready energy to Melbourne.
Film runs alongside the live program through Fed Square’s Outdoor Cinema, continuing throughout February with two distinct programs. In Defence of Satire (2nd–5th February) presents films that dissect modern life with sharp humour, while Silent Cinema with Live Scores (16th–20th February) returns with restored classics accompanied by live performances from Australian musicians and composers. Highlights include Modern Times with a contemporary score, a 100th anniversary screening of The General, and a Lunar New Year presentation of The Goddess with live accompaniment. All cinema sessions include burnt-in captions.
Dance and performance complete the calendar. City Sessions returns on 22nd February, transforming the Square into a street-level stage for battles, showcases and DJ-led sets from dancers across Australia and abroad. On Valentine’s Day, Nongkrong – Pasar Senja presents a thoughtful celebration of Indonesian-Australian culture through music, visual art and community experiences — equally suited to a date night, a group outing or a cultural reset with family.
Across its four-week run, Open Air positions Federation Square as Melbourne’s civic living room — a place to arrive without expectation and leave having shared something. Free, open and designed for all ages, the program treats access as a creative choice, not a compromise.
Open Air runs from 2nd to 28th February, 2026; see the full program here
Whether you arrive for a headline act or stay because something unexpected pulls you in, Federation Square remains exactly what it was built to be: a place where Melbourne comes together. For more inspiration on what to see and do around the city this summer, explore our guide to the Australian Open, along with our edit of rooftop bars made for balmy nights.
