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What’s On in Melbourne: Your Ultimate Guide for July & Beyond
Everything to see and do this month in Melbourne (and beyond).
The brisk winter chill has well and truly settled over Melbourne. But while the temperature may have dipped, the city certainly hasn’t — marching through the season with its signature swagger. While others hibernate, we layer up, lean in, and embrace the moody skies with pride. After all, a little cold has never stopped Melbourne from putting on a show.
Winter in this city brings with it a certain magic — cosy wine bars tucked away in laneways, steaming bowls of ramen in hidden gems, moody gallery nights, and the comforting hum of a bustling theatre crowd.
From indulgent long lunches to after-dark events that light up the cold, there’s no shortage of ways to stay social, stylish, and well-fed this season. So rug up, brave the breeze, and dive headfirst into the winter happenings keeping Melbourne’s spirit alight.
What’s On in Melbourne This Month: Play
Jackalope’s Luxe Winter Day Pass Is the Peninsula’s Best-Kept Secret
Jackalope’s Winter Day Access Pass is here to turn your off-season into peak indulgence. Set on a private vineyard in Merricks North, this lush day package ($100 for two) includes access to the 30-metre heated infinity pool, outdoor spa, and infrared sauna, plus robes and tea on arrival. Make it a luxe midweek reset or vineyard day-date, then warm up by the fire at Flaggerdoot or linger over lunch at Rare Hare.
Sundays to Thursdays ‘til 30th September
166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North
Life Instyle Returns to Melbourne
A sensory playground for the design-obsessed, Life Instyle Melbourne is back — and it’s ready to dazzle. Kicking off at the end of July, this curated showcase of covetable brands is where Australia’s most inspiring makers, retailers and creative minds converge under one very stylish roof. Think cutting-edge homewares, cult beauty labels, and fashion finds that’ll have you mentally redecorating and restyling before you’ve even left the floor.
New this year? First Instyle: a trailblazing lineup of emerging designers making their wholesale debut. It’s the insider’s edit of what’s next in Australian design — and it’s not to be missed.
31st July to 3rd August, 2025
Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens
Cat Comedy & Cocktails Fundraising Party
If you like your stand-up with a side of whiskers and a strong philanthropic streak, this purr-fectly timed comedy night is your calling. In honour of International Cat Day, the Cat Protection Society of Victoria is hosting a riotous evening of feline-themed cocktails, canapés and comedy at Welcome to Thornbury — with award-winning comic Bron Lewis leading the charge. She’ll be joined by fellow funny folk Dave Thornton and Kirsty Webeck, helping raise much-needed funds for the 1,300+ cats and kittens currently in CPSV’s care. Good laughs, great cause, excellent excuse for a Friday night martini.
Friday 8th August
Tickets $100 – All proceeds support CPSV
The Greenhouse, Welcome to Thornbury, 520 High Street, Northcote
Unlock Your Creative Spirit This Winter with NGV Art School
This winter, NGV Art School beckons the curious, the passionate, and the creatively restless to dive deep into a world where art transcends the canvas. From the hypnotic elegance of Japanese kimono craft to the vibrant pulse of First Peoples’ art, each course is a masterclass in seeing — and feeling — the world anew.
Whether you crave the tactile joy of in-person discovery or the flexible allure of online learning, NGV’s educators and curators invite you to journey through colour, design, storytelling, and history with fresh eyes and open hearts.
For more information on classes and enrolment, visit here
Little Food Market
If there’s a more exquisite way to spend a winter’s day in Melbourne than wandering the grand, colonnaded halls of the Royal Exhibition Building with a rare cheese sample in one hand and a locally blended vermouth in the other, we’d like to hear it. From 18th to 20th July, The Little Food Market transforms this heritage icon into a feasting fantasia — equal parts marketplace, festival, and sensory love letter to Australian produce. Over 200 handpicked tastemakers from across the country will descend, serving up everything from banh mi to barrel-aged whisky, silky small-batch cheese to wood-fired pizzas crisped to perfection.
Regional precincts spotlight Gippsland, Bendigo and the Mornington Peninsula’s finest, while the Chef’s Hat Stage hosts live demos on pasta, fermentation and the architecture of the perfect cheeseboard. Premium ticket holders leave with limited-edition Alice Oehr-designed glassware and a tote full of goodies.
Come hungry, leave enchanted. This is a weekend in Melbourne at its most delicious.
Friday 18th to Sunday 20th July
Friday: 12pm to 8pm; Saturday: 10am to 7pm; Sunday: 10am to 5pm
Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Garden
IWAGUMI AIR SCAPE by ENESS
Prahran Square transforms into a luminous wonderland this August with the Australian premiere of IWAGUMI AIR SCAPE by ENESS. Monumental inflatable rock forms shimmer with light and sound, inviting all ages to immerse in this dreamy, free public art installation. Don’t miss it!
1st to 17th August, glowing nightly from 5pm to 10pm
Prahran Square, Prahran
Soft Launch
Florals by day, floor-fillers by night — Collingwood’s Xflos studio is putting the petal to the metal this August with Soft Launch, a six-hour rave blooming inside a working florist. Flowerclub’s after-dark transformation promises deep grooves and heavy-hitting techno from the likes of Effektor (live), Flat Esoteric, and Kato, all set among botanical surrounds that smell better than your average club. It’s chaotic good, a little bit green, and totally unlike anything else in Melbourne’s electronic scene.
Saturday 30th August, 7pm to 1am
30B Perry Street, Collingwood
Chesstivus at Acid Chess Club
It’s chess, but not as you know it. Acid Chess Club’s Chesstivus is throwing the board out the window (not literally… we hope) with its most chaotic tournament yet — a nocturnal, genre-bending collision of strategy, synth, and spectacle. Think 64-player blitz battles, miracle gambits, and a killer lineup (Wrong Way Up, Adam Halliwell, DJ Possum) scoring every move. Entry’s free to spectate, but compete if you dare. Collingwood Yards becomes a cerebral rave — with prizes.
$15 entry to play, free to watch
Thursday 24th July, 6pm to 11:30pm
Collingwood Yards
Leaps & Bounds Festival
Leaps and Bounds Festival returns to the City of Yarra from Thursday, 24th to Sunday, 27th July. This year, the festival transforms over 20 venues across Fitzroy, Collingwood, and Richmond into vibrant spaces celebrating live music, performance, and community connection. Featuring a community-curated program assembled by local venue bookers, promoters, and record labels, the festival showcases a diverse lineup of over 60 acts. Highlights include the return of the legendary Punters Club teaming up with The Evelyn Hotel to present Kennel District, and the ‘EORTI’ celebration of Greek culture — featuring live music, rare 78 rpm Rebetika recordings, a Greek DJ for dancing, Greek BBQ, and complimentary meze with tastings of top-tier Hellenic organic wines, spirits, and liqueurs.
It’s Melbourne’s sonic playground for the curious, the dedicated, and the night owls — unapologetically loud, defiantly inclusive, and utterly addictive. Get ready to leap, bound, and lose yourself.
Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th July, 2025
Various locations around the city
Embrace Solo Luxury This Winter at voco Melbourne Central
This winter, rediscover the art of self-indulgence with voco Melbourne Central’s exquisite solo staycation packages: Reset NOMO and Escape NOMO (Night On My Own). Tailored for the discerning solo traveller, these experiences marry serene comfort with curated cultural adventures. Reset NOMO offers a sublime two-hour massage and facial at Spa Bar Melbourne, while Escape NOMO presents a bespoke itinerary of Melbourne’s finest shows and exhibitions. Both packages include breakfast in bed, a welcoming bottle of Dal Zotto Prosecco, a luxe self-care kit, and a late checkout, allowing you to savour every moment of this elegant urban retreat.
Packages start from $380
Available now through December 2025
18 Timothy Lane, Melbourne
A New Cultural Landmark Opens in the Grampians
Fourteen years in the making, the WAMA Foundation opens its doors this month — and it’s set to become one of regional Victoria’s most remarkable cultural destinations. Located just outside Halls Gap, the 16-hectare site features Australia’s first National Centre for Environmental Art, launching with End & Being by Jacobus Capone — a moving exploration of climate, memory and transformation. The opening weekend (5th to 7th July) includes curated talks, DJ sets, a Welcome to Country, art and nature workshops, local wines and over 500 native plants in the Gariwerd Botanic Garden. With food trucks, a cafe, and a deep sense of place, WAMA invites you to connect with nature, art and community in a truly immersive way. A must for winter wanderers and cultural seekers alike.
Adults $18
Opens Saturday 5th July at noon (smoking ceremony at 11am)
Saturday, 11am to 6pm, Sunday and Monday, 10am to 5pm
4000 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Halls Gap, Victoria
ECHO: Every Cold Hearted Oxygen at Malthouse Theatre
A theatrical experience like no other, ECHO lands at Malthouse direct from London’s Royal Court Theatre for a strictly limited season (14th to 19th July). Each night, a new performer — think Ben Lawson, Pia Miranda, Stan Grant, Michelle Brasier and more — steps on stage unrehearsed, guided live by playwright Nassim Soleimanpour via tech-magic from Berlin. It’s raw, electric and never to be repeated.
Don’t miss this mind-bending blend of theatre, trust, and real-time storytelling this month in Melbourne.
14th to 19th July
Merlyn Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank
Lightscape
Lightscape Melbourne returns this winter to the Royal Botanic Gardens, transforming the nights into a glowing wonderland of immersive light art. Perfect for families to wander through magical installations or couples seeking a dreamy date night under radiant canopies, Lightscape is a joyous celebration of winter’s charm in the city. Running from June 20th to August 10th, it’s a seasonal highlight that never fails to enchant — a blissful way to embrace Melbourne’s crisp evenings.
Sitchu Tip: Travelling from afar or in need of a luxe staycation? Snap up the Crowne Plaza Winter Light Up package. It includes two tickets to Lightscape during your stay, along with exclusive Crowne Plaza Melbourne beanies and a blanket to keep you cosy. After wandering through the dazzling trail of light displays and soundscapes, unwind in comfort in a plush King Bed overlooking the city skyline, South Wharf or the hotel pool. The next morning, enjoy a steamy cup of coffee from your in-room pod machine and a hearty buffet breakfast at Ottie’s — everything you need for a truly unforgettable night (and morning) in Melbourne’s magical winter glow.
Friday June 20th to Sunday August 10th
Royal Botanic Gardens
Melbourne Fair Returns with a Dazzling Celebration of Art Deco
A century after Art Deco first stole the world’s heart, the iconic Melbourne Fair is marking 100 years since its Parisian debut with a glittering four-day celebration at Caulfield Racecourse. Expect headdresses, flapper frocks, Egyptian Revival jewels and a jam-packed program of fashion parades and talks, including style historian Claudia Chan Shaw and ArtsNational President Geoffrey Edwards.
Don your finest vintage and enter the Best Dressed comp, or simply come to swoon. It’s history, glamour, and a little razzle-dazzle — all under one very chic roof.
July 31st to August 3rd
Caulfield Racecourse
Northcote Social Club Turns 20 — 20 Gigs for 20 Years
Celebrating 20 years of rocking High Street, Northcote Social Club is throwing a milestone bash you won’t want to miss. Get ready for an all-star lineup featuring Gut Health, Nai Palm, Jordy Lane, Kingswood, and Alice Ivy, plus plenty of cold brews and good vibes. From indie anthems to dancefloor fillers, this is a celebration of Melbourne’s live music heart and soul. Mark your calendars — it’s a birthday party with serious pedigree.
Various dates in July and August
Northcote Social Club, 301 High Street, Northcote
The Day Party That’s Redefining Melbourne’s Social Scene
Welcome to MixandMatcha.AM — Melbourne’s freshest (and most fabulous) new party concept where caffeine meets club culture. Forget late nights and hangovers — this monthly sober day rave swaps cocktails for coffee, and martinis for matcha. Think high-energy DJ sets, velvet-smooth lattes, and non-alc elixirs served to a crowd of beautifully buzzing revellers.
Already a hit in LA and London, this joyful celebration of sober socialising next lands in Melbourne on June 8th. This is where wellness and wild fun finally collide.
Location revealed via MixandMatcha.AM social media
Ski, Dine, Party: Mt Buller’s Four Hottest Weekends
This winter, Melbourne’s tastemakers are trading laneways for lift passes, as hospitality heavyweights Marmont, Entrecôte and MoVida ascend to Mt Buller for an unmissable alpine series curated by hospitality powerhouse, Tommy Collins. Hosted at their chic alpine venues, The Villager and Little Villager, across four snow-dusted weekends, the mountainside is set to transform into a glamorous après-ski playground — complete with intimate dinners, open-air street parties, and DJ-fuelled revelry under the stars. With Grant Smillie, Jason Jones and Frank Camorra at the helm, expect a season of soul-warming cuisine, signature cocktails, and serious style. Buller’s never looked — or tasted — so good.
Movida Meets Mt Buller, July 31st, August 1st and 2nd – book here
Entrecote, the French Alps Way, August 15th and 16th – book here
Glow On the Go: HYDE Melbourne Adds Cult LED Masks to the In-Room Lineup
Self-care just got a glow-up at Melbourne’s most creative new stay. HYDE Melbourne Place is now offering Sonna’s cult-status LED face masks — available straight from your in-room compendium. With six high-tech settings (think Rejuvenate, Anti-Ageing, and Morning Mode), this luxe treatment is perfect for winding down or getting ready to go out.
Designed by Kennedy Nolan and stocked with Leif and Aesop, HYDE is all about sleek vibes — and Sonna fits right in. Wellness, but make it effortlessly chic this winter.
130 Russell Street, Melbourne
French Impressionism at NGV
Claude Monet, Renoir, Degas and their Impressionist pals are back at NGV International — this time with a vengeance. After the 2021 lockdown robbed us of the show, French Impressionism from Boston returns, brighter and bolder, with over 100 masterpieces capturing the magic of light, colour, and life’s fleeting moments. Wander through Parisian streets, lush forests, and Normandy’s coast — all while soaking in 18 Monet canvases spanning three decades. It’s a dreamy, brush-stroked escape that’s pure visual poetry and the perfect winter muse.
Until 5th October
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
VIVA Melbourne
Round up your crew and dive headfirst into VIVA, Melbourne’s sultry new cabaret that’s cranking up winter’s heat. Set in North Melbourne, this dazzling spectacle fuses burlesque, acrobatics, and live tunes into one unapologetically bold night of glamour and grit. With fresh shows like VOGUE — where high fashion struts with high-octane flair — and VICIOUS, a hypnotic late-night thrill ride, expect jaw-dropping costumes, cheeky moves, and an electric vibe.
Perfect for birthdays or a spicy escape, VIVA is your ticket to fearless fun and fierce femininity unleashed.
Secure tickets here
64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne
Prison Island Brings Escape Room Excitement to Melbourne
Melbourne’s newest thrill is about to drop — Prison Island lands on the first Thursday of June, ready to turbocharge your social life. This isn’t your average escape room; it’s a high-stakes blend of brain-busting puzzles, physical challenges, and sneaky strategy wrapped up in a gritty prison vibe.
Whether you’re a seasoned escape artist or just craving a wildly different night out, Prison Island serves up adrenaline, laughs, and serious bragging rights. Winter chills? Forget ’em — the heat is all inside this epic escape game.
The District Docklands, Level 1/22 Star Crescent, Docklands
Kimono at the NGV
Kimono is another exhibition at the NGV set to wow Melburnians this June, offering a breathtaking deep dive into the rich history, craftsmanship, and enduring cultural significance of Japan’s most iconic garment. From the ornate designs of the Edo period to bold contemporary interpretations by designers like Hiroko Takahashi and Jotaro Saito, Kimono showcases the garment’s evolution over centuries. Highlights include Saito’s Dark Romantic collection, which premieres in Australia and features hand-painted pieces created using the traditional yuzen dyeing technique.
Alongside the garments, the exhibition will also display over 150 related works — think woodblock prints, paintings, and decorative arts — creating a rich, immersive experience that tells the full story of the kimono’s global influence.
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
HADESTOWN
From the moment the curtain rises at the Theatre Royal, HADESTOWN will transport you to another world. One of Australia’s best musicals right now, it weaves an epic, mythical love story like no other — following the young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, alongside King Hades and Persephone.
Featuring a star-studded cast, including multi-ARIA Award winner Christine Anu as Hermes, Abigail Adriano as Eurydice, Noah Mullins as Orpheus, Elenoa Rokobaro as Persephone, and Adrian Tamburini as Hades, this original production is not to be missed.
Secure tickets here
Until 13th July
Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne
Beetlejuice the Musical
Get ready, Melbourne — Beetlejuice the Musical is crashing the stage this May! Based on the cult classic Tim Burton film, it follows a quirky teen whose life turns upside down when she meets a recently deceased couple… and a demon obsessed with stripes. Packed with wicked wit, jaw-dropping sets, and tunes you’ll be humming till Halloween, this Broadway sensation blends spooky chaos with heart. It’s weird, wild, and wonderfully addictive—so grab your tickets before you say my name and miss out!
Secure tickets here
Until 31st August
Regent Theatre, Melbourne
What’s On in Melbourne This Month: Eat & Drink
Try Croissanteria’s Lobster Croissant Roll
This flakey pastry haven has just upped the ante and extended the good times into the evening with the launch of Croissanteria By Night. Once the coffee rush is over and the city descends into dusk, you can expect a change of pace with mood lighting, European small plates and yummy cocktails. There’s even a decadent lobster roll croissant on the menu. Wash it down with a rhubarb fizz, peach & tea Bellini or Grey Goose elderflower mist. Sounds like there’s no place we’d rather be!
Crown Melbourne
Try This Dubai Chocolate Thickshake
The Dubai chocolate craze is making its way through Australia and the latest dessert to be given a pistachio makeover is Ribs & Burgers’ thickshake. Top off your meal with this decadent dessert or swing by for an afternoon pick-me-up.
What can you expect? Lashings of pistachio paste and chocolate sauce topped with generous sprinklings of pistachio crush and crispy kataifi pastry. It’s here for a good time, not a long time so be sure to pop it on your must-eat list.
Locations across Melbourne, find your closest here
A Very Lasagne Long Lunch at Grossi Florentino
They had us at “hot layers of slow-cooked ragu.” This World Lasagne Day long lunch is your excuse to lean hard into winter comfort — the Italian way. $75 gets you antipasti, a bubbling pan of house-made lasagne served tableside (yes please), and a tiramisu finale, all soundtracked by live accordion. It’s like nonna’s kitchen got a glow-up, and you’re front and centre.
Saturday 26th July, 12:30pm to 3pm
$75 per person
80 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Oasis After Dark at Jayda
The luxe surrounds of Shane Delia’s cocktail bar Jayda are getting the full Middle Eastern treatment for one night only this July. Taking place on Wednesday 30 July, Oasis After Dark promises a transportive midweek escape, complete with live music by Melbourne outfit Zourouna, roaming belly dancers, and henna artists, all set to the warm hum of Jayda’s seductive lighting and spice-laced cocktail list.
Expect bold, aromatic drinks, sumptuous snacks, and the kind of glittering energy that makes you forget it’s the middle of winter. With two intimate sittings (5:30pm and 7:30pm), entry is free and bookings are essential — food and drinks as ordered.
Wednesday 30th July, 5:30pm and 7:30pm sittings
Book here
Jayda, 19 Bond Street, Melbourne
YTB Launches Reimagined Afternoon High Tea
The iconic YTB (Yugen Tea Bar) has a brand new afternoon high tea, available to enjoy every weekend. YTB’s reimagined take on the classic afternoon high tea offers a curated menu that balances savoury and sweet morsels, providing delight with every bite. Highlights that grace the tier include a carrot tart, Kung Pao Chicken and ramen egg sandwiches, buckwheat teriyaki, and Hokkaido tart. We’ll be booking into this one, stat.
Saturdays and Sundays, 12pm to 2:30pm
$130 per person
605 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Regional Farmers Monthly Market at Abbotsford Convent
The Abbotsford Convent has got a new monthly farmers market, with more than 45 stalls of organic fruit and vegetables, locally sourced dairy, homemade desserts and more on offer. Embrace the spring sunshine and stroll through the bustling stalls, with highlights include Spring Creek Organics, Heathmont Honey, the fresh kefir and vintage cheddar at Blue Bay Cheese, and the delightful desserts at Pudding Nana. Bread and butter pudding, anyone?
$2 entry
8:00am to 2:00pm
Second Saturday of every month
What’s On in Melbourne This Month: Regional Adventures
Djaara Lights in Bendigo
Step into the story of the land at Djaara Lights, a mesmerising fusion of art, culture, and technology illuminating Bendigo’s Oscars Walk and Bath Lane Precinct. Through stunning Dja Dja Wurrung artwork and augmented reality, experience the six seasons of Djandak as told by the Traditional Owners. It’s immersive, moving, and a must-see this month.
Daily, 7pm to 11pm
Until March 2027
Bendigo, Victoria
Looking for more fun things to do in Melbourne this autumn? We have plenty to keep you entertained. From Melbourne’s best new restaurants and bars to friendly pubs, cafes and late-night cocktail haunts, here’s all you need for an epic weekend in the city.
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