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The Cultural Calendar: Melbourne Arts & Music Events You Need to Know
Craving a dose of creativity in the city? Discover the latest art and cultural news, reviews, and happenings here.
Step into the pulse of Melbourne’s cultural season — where ideas spark, stories collide, and art takes centre stage. This summer, the city is buzzing with premieres, provocations and immersive worlds that blur the line between stage and street.
From boundary-bending theatre at Malthouse to sensory marvels at the NGV, Melbourne’s creative calendar is anything but ordinary.
Here’s your backstage pass to the city’s most unmissable art and culture moments this December and beyond — a reminder that inspiration is Melbourne’s native language.
2026 Line-Up Revealed for Melbourne Art Fair
Melbourne Art Fair is always a fixture on our cultural calendar, but the 2026 edition arrives with a different voltage. This year marks the launch of FUTUREOBJEKT — a collectable design salon operating as a fair within the fair, where Australia’s most forward-thinking designers gather under one impeccably curated roof. Expect material experimentation, sculptural bravado and objects that slip between art, architecture and something delightfully undefinable. It’s ambitious, imaginative and unmistakably Melbourne.
Debuting alongside it is the Fair’s inaugural Design Commission with the NGV, awarded to metalsmith and designer Anna Varendorff (ACV Studio). Her new installation — an orchestration of tubular lights, suspended vessels and monumental floor forms — is primed to become one of the Fair’s centrepiece experiences.
In the VIP Lounge, Broached Commissions reinvents the idea of quiet luxury through a living archive of botanical art, weaving together centuries of floral interpretation into an immersive, multi-sensory environment. And for a moment of calm amid the buzz, the Champagne Bollinger Bar — reimagined by designer and Fair Ambassador Brahman Perera — delivers a sculptural intervention of soft geometry, warm tactility and classic Perera restraint.
Across four days, over 60 galleries converge with collectors, artists and the design-curious, turning Melbourne into a constellation of conversations, encounters and ideas. If you want to glimpse where contemporary art and design are heading next, this is the weekend that sets the compass.
Purchase tickets here
19th to 22nd February, 2026
Coming in 2026: MOTHER at NGV Australia
The NGV is set to unveil MOTHER, a landmark exhibition exploring one of humanity’s oldest creative fascinations. Opening 27th March 2026, this free showcase brings together more than 200 works from the NGV Collection spanning centuries, cultures and mediums. Highlights range from Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and Käthe Kollwitz to David Hockney, Hayley Millar Baker and Iluwanti Ken, alongside surprising historical pieces and significant new acquisitions. Structured across three chapters, the exhibition traces motherhood through creation, care and legacy, creating a moving study of what it means to nurture, to guide and to carry stories forward.
Opens March 27th, 2026
Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, Federation Square
Palace Foreshore Drops a Huge 2026 Line-Up by the Sea
Summer in Melbourne just levelled up: Palace Foreshore returns from 26th February to 12th March 2026, bringing a blockbuster run of global names, local heroes and that unmistakable St Kilda gleam. The seaside precinct once again becomes a sun-soaked playground of live music, cold drinks and golden-hour magic — and this year’s program is genuinely massive.
Kicking things off on Thursday 26th February, Black Country, New Road open the season with their bold new sound. The following night, Friday 27th February, hip-hop pioneers De La Soul headline the debut of Droppin’ Science, joined by Oddisee & Good Compny and Miss Kaninna for a night honouring the roots — and future — of the culture.
On Thursday, 5th March, The Streets take the stage to perform A Grand Don’t Come for Free in full for the very first time, promising a wildly nostalgic and cathartic night. The energy spikes again on Friday, 6th March, with Pendulum’s explosive homecoming show, arriving off the back of their first full-length album in 15 years. Then, on Thursday 12th March, Peach PRC brings a splash of bubblegum-bright pop to the foreshore; a glittery, heartfelt spectacle sure to draw crowds.
Framed by bay views, sunset skies and a buzzing summer crowd, Palace Foreshore cements itself once more as Melbourne’s ultimate warm-weather hang, complete with beloved food trucks, pop-up bars and the kind of coastal breeze that pairs perfectly with live music. With more announcements still to come, this year’s season is shaping up to be unforgettable.
Purchase tickets or sign up for presale here
SUGAR Returns to Melbourne: The Acclaimed Cabaret Hit Serving Sass & Sequins
The outrageous, glitter-soaked cabaret SUGAR is back — and Melbourne, consider this your warning. Fresh from a sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe, multidisciplinary powerhouse Tomáš Kantor returns home for Midsumma Festival (13th to 25th January 2026, Arts Centre Melbourne), stepping into the heels of their gender-fluid alter ego, Sugar. Get set for pop anthems, stilettos, and soul — a one-person fever dream equal parts confession, comedy, and chaos.
Written by Ro Bright and directed by Kitan Petkovski, SUGAR is bold, filthy, and impossible to resist — a glittering homecoming that promises to leave no crumb behind.
13th to 25th January, 2026
Arts Centre Melbourne
On the Edge of Something Beautiful: Lango Arrives in Footscray
Footscray’s creative heart is set to beat louder with Lango — a striking new outdoor performance space opening in November 2025 at Footscray Community Arts. Designed by MGS Architects with landscaping by Simone Bliss, the venue marries sculptural form with deep cultural resonance. Named from the Woi-Wurrung word for “on the edge,” Lango captures the west’s spirit of innovation — its sweeping shells etched with motifs by Yorta Yorta artist Moorina Bonini, symbolising Ancestors watching over performers.
With storytelling fires, riverfront pathways and community-led programming, Lango is set to become the west’s most inspired new stage — where culture, Country and creativity meet beneath the open sky.
Sitchu Tip: To mark Lango’s debut, Footscray Community Arts will host two free music events — the first on 31st January 2026, featuring neo-soul powerhouse Kaiit and DJ PGZ. Pack a picnic, claim a patch of grass by the river, and watch the west come alive under the stars.
Opening November, 2025
A War of Words, Reignited: Much Ado at MTC
For the first time in three decades, Melbourne Theatre Company is reviving Shakespeare’s sharpest comedy — and it’s shaping up to be a knockout. Under the deft direction of Mark Wilson, Alison Bell and Fayssal Bazzi take on Beatrice and Benedick, a duo bound by wit, wounded pride and undeniable chemistry. Their war of words cuts close to the bone — fierce, funny, and fatally charming. Beatrice and Benedick are Shakespeare’s most modern lovers: bruised by history, bound by attraction, and daring to find truth in all the noise.
14th November to 19th December, 2025
Book tickets here
Southbank Theatre, Melbourne
Sydney Road’s Silver Screen Revival: A New Cinema Era Begins
After a 44-year intermission, the flicker of film returns to Sydney Road. Now open, Brunswick Picture House is the latest venture from the team behind Thornbury Picture House — a single-screen cinema with a bar, heritage charm, and a program built for true film lovers. The restored building will host everything from indie standouts to cult treasures, along with events that bring the community together.
A new chapter for Sydney Road, written in light, laughter, and a touch of nostalgia.
Now open
510-512 Sydney Road, Brunswick
‘ART’ Brings a Star-Studded Stage Triumph to Melbourne
Richard Roxburgh, Damon Herriman and Ryan Corr — three of Australia’s most magnetic performers — are joining forces for ART, Yasmina Reza’s internationally acclaimed comedy about friendship, ego and the chaos that erupts over one very expensive painting. Directed by Lee Lewis (Prima Facie), this sharp, witty production promises crackling dialogue and exquisite tension, delivered by a trio at the top of their game.
Melbourne audiences can catch the limited season at the Comedy Theatre from 24th April, 2026. Tickets go on sale Thursday 23rd October at 11am.
Sitchu Tip: Expect laughter, discomfort and a few too-real reflections on modern masculinity — all wrapped in perfect comic timing.
Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
Fed Square’s Free Gig Series Returns Bigger Than Ever
Fed Square is turning up the volume once again — and it’s serving up the kind of lineup that makes you proud to call Melbourne home. Psychedelic shape-shifters King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard headline with a one-off rave set (yes, really), diving deep into live modular techno on Friday 24th October. Then, Moodymann and DJ Jnett bring the house down on Thursday 27th November, blending soul, funk, and deep groove into one unforgettable night.
Round out the year under the stars on New Year’s Eve, when MzRizk, Gavin Campbell, and Barry Sunset spin disco and dancefloor magic till midnight.
Free, all-ages, and absolutely unmissable — this is Melbourne in full flight.
Fed Square, Melbourne
Terminator 2 Reimagined: A Live Electronic Score and Laser Spectacle Takes Over Hamer Hall
The future will return — louder, stranger, and far more beautiful than you remember. To celebrate the film’s 35th anniversary, Hear My Eyes will transform Terminator 2: Judgment Day into a live, high-voltage performance at Hamer Hall. Belgian electronic maestro Peter Van Hoesen and Melbourne laser visionary Robin Fox will reimagine James Cameron’s sci-fi landmark with an all-new electronic score and hypnotic light show.
Backed by the MESS Synthesiser Orchestra, this three-night event will blur the lines between cinema, concert and art installation — a pulse-racing fusion of sound, light and nostalgia. A mind-bending ode to the machine age, it’s one spectacle Melbourne won’t soon forget.
26th to 28th February, 2026
Book tickets here
Hamer Hall, Melbourne
Melbourne Welcomes Back The Book of Mormon This Summer 2026
The Book of Mormon is making its long-awaited return to Melbourne in February 2026, bringing its sharp wit and irreverent charm back to the Princess Theatre. From the creators of South Park, the Tony Award-winning musical is equal parts outrageous and uplifting — a clever, laugh-out-loud satire that’s become a global phenomenon. After captivating audiences worldwide, it’s Melbourne’s turn once again to sing along, gasp, and grin from ear to ear.
Tickets are set to go on sale soon.
Waitlist here
Princess Theatre, Melbourne
Nipa Doshi’s Room of Her Own Opens at NGV
MECCA x NGV’s 2025 Women in Design Commission has crowned Mumbai-born, London-based Nipa Doshi with a world premiere at NGV International (25th September 2025 to 1st April 2026, free). The centrepiece is A Room of My Own: a handcrafted cabinet — part shrine, part dressing table — channelling kaavad traditions and the women who shaped her life. Open the doors, and abstract portraits greet you; beside them, Doshi’s debut typeface blooms across the gallery in hand-painted, architectural strokes, paired with a moving-image work. Co-founder of Doshi Levien and recipient of an MBE, Doshi brings memory, ritual and grace to Melbourne’s design season. Consider it a love letter to craft.
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Cartier’s Dazzling Australian Exclusive at NGV
Prepare to be swept into a world of brilliance as NGV International unveils Cartier — the largest exhibition of the legendary jewellery house ever staged in Australia. Opening 12 June 2026, this Melbourne-exclusive showcase brings over 300 glittering creations: tiaras once worn by Rihanna and Clementine Churchill, Elizabeth Taylor’s ruby-studded necklace, Wallis Simpson’s famed Panther brooch, and treasures from Dame Nellie Melba. Direct from London’s V&A and staged with Studio Sabine Marcelis, this resplendent exhibition charts Cartier’s enduring legacy of artistry, glamour and innovation.
12th June to 4th October 2026
NGV International
New Year’s at the Bowl: Melbourne’s Getting Ready for Its Party Era
Forget scrambling for Ubers out of the suburbs — Melbourne’s finally getting the inner-city New Year’s Eve festival it deserves. New Year’s at the Bowl lands at Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings Domain gardens for two days of music mayhem to farewell 2025 and usher in 2026. Expect Underworld and Carl Cox to soundtrack the midnight madness on NYE, while Maribou State, Berlioz, Santigold and Joy Crookes bring a softer sunrise groove on New Year’s Day. Add in local heroes like Harvey Sutherland, Glass Beams and Roza Terenzi, and you’ve got the ultimate genre-spanning blowout.
Presale kicks off Monday 15th September, 12pm — Melbourne, consider your countdown officially upgraded.
Purchase tickets here
Circa’s Duck Pond Splashes Into Melbourne This Summer
Forget the ballet you thought you knew — this January, Melbourne’s Princess Theatre becomes the stage for Circa’s Duck Pond, a dazzling reimagining of Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling. Here, classical ballet pirouettes into contemporary circus: soaring aerials, gravity-defying acrobatics and sly humour entwined with the kind of beauty that leaves you breathless. Conceived by visionary Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz, Duck Pond has bewitched London and Sydney — and now it’s Melbourne’s turn. Glass of champagne in hand, lights fading to a hush, you’ll be swept into a world that’s part love story, part spectacle, and wholly unforgettable.
From $69.90
Book tickets here
14th to 25th January, 2026
Princess Theatre, Melbourne
Spiegel Haus Arrives: Melbourne’s Dazzling New Home of Cabaret, Culture and Rooftop Revelry
Melbourne’s nightlife is about to reach new heights with the launch of Spiegel Haus Melbourne, a two-level entertainment playground set to transform the Golden Square car park on Lonsdale Street. Opening this October, the precinct will feature multiple performance venues, a rooftop dome bar with panoramic city views, and a bold program of food, music and art. Kicking off the season is the internationally acclaimed Blanc de Blanc Encore — a champagne-soaked spectacle of cabaret, circus and vintage French glamour. With world-class performances, collaborations with local creatives and a rooftop made for summer nights, Spiegel Haus is Melbourne’s new cultural heartbeat.
Open from Wednesday 29th October
Wednesday to Sunday, various times
Tickets from $69
My Brilliant Career Returns: A Five-Star Riot of Song, Spirit and Sybylla
Miles Franklin’s headstrong heroine is back — and this time, she’s singing her lungs out. Following a rapturous, sold-out debut, My Brilliant Career storms into Southbank Theatre for a strictly limited run in January 2026. With Kala Gare blazing as Sybylla Melvyn, Sheridan Harbridge’s reimagining transforms the classic tale into a feminist anthem, underscored by a whip-smart score of pop, pub rock and bush ballads. Expect sparks, swagger, and a production critics are already calling “a funny, feminist triumph.”
Book fast — brilliance rarely lingers.
23rd January to 28th February
Access subscriber pre-sale here
Tickets open to everyone Wednesday 27th August, 3pm
Southbank Theatre, The Sumner
Australia’s First Environmental Art Gallery to Open in the Grampians
This winter, the natural beauty of Gariwerd/Grampians will become the backdrop for a bold new chapter in Australia’s cultural story. The WAMA Foundation has announced the opening of the National Centre for Environmental Art — the first gallery of its kind in the country, dedicated entirely to exploring the relationship between art and the environment.
Set to open in Halls Gap in winter 2025, the centre will offer visitors a thought-provoking new reason to journey into Victoria’s ancient ranges — one that blends landscape, ecology, and contemporary creativity.
The gallery will launch with End & Being, an ambitious and hauntingly beautiful solo exhibition by acclaimed Western Australian artist Jacobus Capone. Known for his multidisciplinary practice spanning video, photography, painting and performance, Capone’s work offers a meditative reflection on ecological grief, time, and human impact on fragile environments.
More than just a gallery, the National Centre for Environmental Art will become a destination — a place where art, science, and nature intersect in one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich landscapes in the country.
Wama Foundation and The National Centre for Environmental Art, 4000 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Halls Gap, Victoria
Martin Grant Brings Jaw-Dropping Style to the Ian Potter Centre
Paris-based Australian fashion designer Martin Grant is set to make waves at the Ian Potter Centre with a stunning exhibition showcasing his signature sleek tailoring and timeless silhouettes. Known for dressing some of the world’s most stylish women—including Cate Blanchett and Lady Gaga—Grant’s work embodies effortless sophistication with a modern edge.
This exhibition isn’t elaborate or boastful. Instead, it’s a thoughtful curation of Martin Grant’s generous donations, encapsulating the incredible work his fashion house has produced throughout the years. You’ll be greeted by six structured black coats as you enter the exhibition, before being lead into a room wherein you’ll gaze upon a gigantic hoop skirt that commands attention. Our favourite part has to be the final room, wherein illustrious gowns are softly spotlights by overhead lights. Perfectly hung in the air, sitting on mannequins that were custom-made for each unique dress, each garment has a weightless, other-worldly air to it. Martin Grant’s retrospective exhibition is a must-see for any fashion lover and art-enthusiast alike.
Tickets and details here
28th March 2025 to 26th January 2026
Ian Potter Centre, Fed Square, Melbourne
Nipa Doshi to Unveil Groundbreaking Work as 2025 MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission Recipient
Nipa Doshi, the Mumbai-born, London-based designer renowned for fusing craft, storytelling, and function, has been named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission. A defining moment for Australian design and cultural discourse, this annual commission highlights global female designers pushing creative boundaries.
Doshi’s new work, A Room of My Own, is a striking, handcrafted cabinet inspired by Indian Kavad shrines—an intimate fusion of personal ritual and memory. Designed as both a dressing table and a shrine, it reveals abstract portraits of women who shaped Doshi’s life, from a 1970s Bollywood star to a maternal neighbour and a compassionate nurse. This poetic yet functional piece embodies her signature style—blending cultural heritage, intricate craftsmanship, and narrative depth.
A globally celebrated designer, Doshi’s work has been showcased at MoMA, the V&A, and the Art Institute of Chicago. As the fourth designer in this five-year commission, she joins a legacy of trailblazing women. A Room of My Own will be unveiled at NGV International on 25th September 2025, marking a milestone in design’s evolving conversation on gender, identity, and tradition.
From 25th September, 2025
Free entry
NGV International, Melbourne
As Melbourne continues to shine with its vibrant arts and culture scene, there’s no shortage of ways to immerse yourself in creativity this summer. Check out our guide to what’s on around the city this month, and don’t miss the chance to explore the top art galleries in Melbourne, where the best of local and international talent is on display.
