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What’s On in Melbourne: Your Ultimate Guide for August & Beyond
Everything to see and do this month in Melbourne (and beyond).
The best things to do in Melbourne in August and September 2026 begin with three cultural heavyweights: the Melbourne International Film Festival, Now or Never and NGV Friday Nights. MIFF takes over cinemas from 6 to 23 August with more than 200 films, premieres and special events, before Now or Never transforms city landmarks through art, sound, performance and technology from 19 to 30 August. Friday Nights at NGV keeps the Cartier blockbuster open after dark until 2 October, complete with live music, performances, food and drinks.
There is still time to catch the final weeks of Queen Victoria Market’s Winter Night Market, serving street food and drinks beneath the sheds every Wednesday until 26 August. Then September turns Melbourne’s attention to sport and spring: the NFL Kickoff Festival arrives from 10 to 12 September, AFL Finals fever builds towards the Grand Final at the MCG on 26 September, and the Melbourne Royal Show returns from 24 September to 4 October.
Melbourne Fringe takes over from 29 September, launching almost 500 independent performances, parties and creative experiments across the city. From major festivals and after-dark exhibitions to theatre, markets, food events and weekends worth booking ahead, this guide covers the best things happening in Melbourne now and next.
In This Guide
Editor’s Picks
Celebrate One Year of MECCA Bourke Street
If your week needs a little glow, make your way to MECCA Bourke Street for a beauty escape worth the go. Melbourne’s biggest beauty playground is marking its first birthday by rolling out a month of exclusive beauty experiences, complimentary gifts, limited-edition collaborations, and wellness events. Expect everything from breathwork and sound baths to personalised beauty services, then stop by MECCA Cafe for an exclusive LUNE Birthday Croissant. Immersive beauty moments, birthday treats and an entire store to lose an afternoon in — consider this your sign to make a day of Melbourne’s ultimate beauty destination.
When: Throughout August
Where: MECCA Bourke Street
Cost: Experiences vary; some complimentary with selected bookings
Best for: Beauty enthusiasts; self-care days; weekend plans
Need to know: Bookable experiences and selected services are available throughout the month. Limited-edition birthday treats and complimentary gifts are available while stocks last.
Crane Bar & Lounge’s Winter Program
Crane Bar and Lounge is making the most of winter beside the Yarra. Drop in from noon for lamb pot pie or a brisket toastie, start the week with miniature martinis paired with oysters and chocolate, or make weekday happy hour count with $12 snacks. Sundays loosen up with tacos and build-your-own margaritas, best enjoyed with the river just beyond the windows.
Where: Crane Bar & Lounge, Lobby Level, 1 Hotel Melbourne, 9 Maritime Place, Docklands
When: Throughout winter, Martini Mondays, Social Sip drinks and Sunday’s Taco Social Club are running weekly
Cost: Martini Mondays cost $19 for one pairing or $52 for three, Social Sip snacks are $12, and tacos cost $7 each or three for $18
Best For: Cosy riverside drinks, winter date nights and turning an ordinary Monday or Sunday into an occasion
Could This Be Australia’s Biggest Cocktail Trail?
If your idea of a great night out starts with an exceptional cocktail, clear your calendar. Throughout August, some of Australia’s best bars are putting their own spin on two all-time classics, with limited-edition Old Fashioneds and creative cocktails made with Venezuela’s most celebrated rum, all pouring for one month only. Expect everything from expertly stirred signature serves to creative twists you won’t find on the regular menu. Whether you’re planning date night, drinks with friends or simply searching for your new favourite bar, this is your excuse to get out and sip your way around town. Hit the links above to find participating venues and think of it as your very own cocktail crawl.
When: Throughout August
Where: Participating venues across Australia
Cost: Varies by venue
Best for: Weekend Plans; Cocktail lovers; Couples; Group catch-ups
Need to know: Both activations run for a limited time only, with participating venues each creating their own signature serves. Browse the venue lists to find a bar near you.
Burgs at the Bowlo
Fitzroy Bowls Club already has the bones of a great winter afternoon: greens beside Edinburgh Gardens, cold drinks, barefoot bowls if you’re feeling brave and enough Northside looseness to turn one quick pint into a minor life choice.
Tommy Two Buns has taken over the kitchen with thick, charcoal-grilled cheeseburgers made from beef minced in-house, best eaten with a beer while Sunday drifts by on the green. Check the team’s Instagram before heading in, as dates and serving hours change each month.
Where: Fitzroy Bowls Club, 578 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy North
When: Selected dates; check Instagram for current sessions
Price: Burgers priced individually
Best for: Casual Sunday lunches, groups and low-stakes bowls
Check In to The Lobby by Ellison Studios
Sydney furniture and interiors brand Ellison Studios has landed in Melbourne with its first physical residency, transforming a first-floor space inside South Yarra’s landmark Conways Building into The Lobby. Part design showroom, part creative meeting place, it riffs on the mood of a great hotel lobby, with sculptural Float sofas, curated artworks from Hake House, rare books by Selected Objects and hand-restored parquetry underfoot. By day, designers can meet clients and explore the collection. By night, talks, performances, drinks and DJ sets draw the city’s creative crowd in.
Where: 1/249 Chapel Street, Prahran
When : Ongoing – check site for details
Cost: Free to view on Fridays and Saturdays
Best For: Design afficionados, interior designers, trade partners, and the wider creative community
Need To Know: You’ll need to book an appointment to experience the space
The Wind Down with Malin + Goetz
Hannah St Hotel has found the chicest possible excuse to cancel dinner plans. Its winter Wind Down package with Malin + Goetz is built for the night-in girlies: Dark Rum-inspired cocktails downstairs at Bar Hannah, nightly turndown, breakfast for two and a smugly late 2pm checkout. The rooms already understand the assignment, with Flack Studio interiors, low light, good linen and Malin + Goetz in the bathroom. Then, because leaving empty-handed would be rude, you take home a full-size Dark Rum candle that smells like plum, leather, rum and someone with excellent taste.
Where: Hannah St Hotel, Southbank
When : Available nightly until 31 August (minimum two-night stay)
Cost: $353 per night
Best For: Couples; Girls’ nights; Premium experiences; Weekend plans; Nightlife
Need To Know: Minimum two-night stay required. Includes Dark Rum cocktails at Bar Hannah, nightly turndown, breakfast for two, 2pm late checkout and a full-size Malin + Goetz Dark Rum candle to take home.
Festivals & Major Events
MIFF Is Taking Over Melbourne’s Cinemas This August
Melbourne’s annual cinematic marathon returns with more than 200 films across 18 days. MIFF opens with Wicker, a fantastical comedy starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, before moving through new work from Pedro Almodóvar and Ryūsuke Hamaguchi, Australian premieres, documentaries, shorts and emerging voices competing in Bright Horizons. Late additions include James Gray’s Paper Tiger, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, and a one-off IMAX screening of monster epic Hope. Book carefully: several sessions are already moving fast.
Where: Cinemas across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including ACMI, The Capitol, Forum, HOYTS Melbourne Central, Kino and The Astor Theatre
When: Thursday 6 to Sunday 23 August 2026
Cost: Varies by screening; three-film multipasses start at $81.40 full price
Best For: Film devotees, winter date nights and discovering something well before its wider release
Need To Know: Opening Night, galas and selected special events require separate tickets, and popular sessions are already selling fast
Now or Never
Now or Never is returning to Melbourne this August with art, ideas, sound and technology taking over the city. This year’s theme, A Whole New World, is all about slipping into stranger futures, with installations, performance, music and talks turning landmark spaces into something more volatile and electric. The full program is the thing to watch, but based on past years, this is the festival for after-dark art moments, big sensory works and conversations that send you home slightly rewired.
Where: Across Melbourne
When: Wednesday 19 August to Sunday 30 August
Cost: Free to $200
Best For: Art-night people, music heads, future thinkers, city explorers and anyone bored by ordinary winter programming.
Need To Know: Tickets and bookings vary by event, so keep an eye on the official program as individual shows and experiences are announced.
Eat & Drink
High Cheese at The Westin
The Westin Melbourne’s cult High Cheese is back for winter, turning the polite ritual of high tea into a three-tiered cheese parade at Allegro Restaurant. Executive Chef Apoorva Kunte has teamed up with Richmond’s Supercheese and cheesemonger Jeremy Spradbery on a menu that moves from truffle-laced Mepunga Gruyère soufflé and Pyengana cheddar arancini to baked Normandy Camembert, Comté with smoked almond scones and Basque cheesecake with Alphonso mango. A glass of Punt Road wine is included, with optional flights for anyone taking the cheese-to-wine ratio seriously.
Where: Allegro Restaurant, The Westin Melbourne, 205 Collins Street, Melbourne
When : 26 May to 17 October 2026, Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to 9.30pm
Cost: From $91 per person
Best For: Cheese tragics, wine-first catch-ups, winter date nights and anyone who likes the ritual of high tea but would rather swap finger sandwiches for baked Camembert, Gruyère soufflé and cheddar arancini.
Need To Know: This is an evening experience, not a daytime high tea. High Cheese runs Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 9.30pm, with bookings essential. The $91 ticket includes the High Cheese menu and a glass of Punt Road wine, with optional wine flights available for those keen to make a night of it.
Potato Party at Prahran Market
Prahran Market is handing the floor to the humble spud for one gloriously carb-loaded Saturday. Potato Party brings together gnocchi from Oltre, hot chippies from Spud Sisters, Hagen’s beef-tallow fries and potato vodka from Hepburn Distillery, alongside one-off trader specials designed for committed potato devotees of every persuasion in Melbourne.
Best for: Potato lovers, casual group hangs and market grazing
When: Saturday 8 August 2026, 10am to 3pm
Where: Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Price: Free entry, food and drinks individually priced
Art, Culture & Performance
Friday Nights at NGV: Cartier
Melbourne’s winter blockbuster is getting the after-dark treatment. Every Friday night, NGV International opens Cartier beyond gallery hours, pairing nearly 400 jewellery objects and archival pieces with live music, film screenings, drinks, dining and a rotating program of city-wide collaborators. This is the rare winter night out that works for art lovers, date nights and anyone who likes their culture with a glass in hand.
Where: NGV International, Melbourne
When: Fridays, 12 June – 2 October, 6pm to 10pm
Cost: From $50 adult; member and concession pricing available
Best For: Art lovers, Couples, Cultural experiences, Exhibitions, Nightlife
Need To Know: Advance bookings recommended — Friday night sessions are expected to sell out.
Markets & Shopping
Winter Night Market at Queen Victoria Market
Melbourne’s favourite cold-weather market is back under the sheds, turning Wednesday nights into a full-throttle winter feed. Queen Victoria Market’s Winter Night Market runs with open fires, roving performers, silent discos, local makers and the kind of food that makes leaving the house in June feel like a very good decision. Chase lobster chowder in a bread roll from The Soup Factory, fried pasta cups from Frasta, Berlin-style doner kebabs, mulled wine, hojicha lattes and American Doughnut Kitchen’s hot jam doughnuts.
Where: Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
When: Wednesdays, 3 June – 26 August, 5pm–10pm
Cost: Free entry, items available to purchase
Best For: Food lovers, Food & drink lovers, Locals, Weekend plans, Free events
Need To Know: Wednesdays only — not on during weekends.
Collingwood Ceramics Market at Chotto Motto
Ceramics and dumplings are a pairing we can very much get behind, and this Collingwood market makes a strong case for clearing your Sunday. Hosted at cult Japanese diner Chotto Motto, the Collingwood Ceramics Market brings together a line-up of local makers for a browse-and-buy afternoon with far more personality than your standard stall setup, from Yolk Eye Ceramics to Naru Kubota.
Each edition lands on the third Sunday of every month, from 12pm to 6pm, with Chotto Motto’s retro surrounds making the whole thing feel especially charming.
Where: 287 Wellington Street, Collingwood
When: Sunday 16th August
Cost: Free to view
Best For: Design lovers, pottery collectors, handmade homewares, market wanderers, and Sunday browsers
Need To Know: Runs monthly on the third Sunday
Outdoor & Active
Taste the Wild Side of Mallacoota at Wild Harvest Seafood Festival
Fresh seafood, coastal adventures and three days beside the water await when the Wild Harvest Seafood Festival returns to Mallacoota from 25–27 September 2026.
The Wild Harvest Market sits at the centre of the weekend, serving oysters, mussels, abalone, sea urchin and other seafood harvested from the surrounding waters alongside regional produce, local makers and live music. Beyond the market, the program spans guided rockpool rambles, family fishing clinics, art exhibitions, a cruise aboard the historic M.V. Loch-Ard, the much-loved Pizza Picnic and the Divers Appreciation Dip.
Turn the festival into a full coastal escape by paddling the calm waters of Mallacoota Inlet, walking through Croajingolong National Park, seeking out secluded beaches and spotting native wildlife along the way.
Sitchu Tip: Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park is also offering 10 per cent off minimum three-night stays between 25–28 September using the code Wild26, subject to availability.
When: 25–27 September 2026
Where: Mallacoota, East Gippsland
Cost: Prices vary; some events are free, while selected experiences require bookings or entry fees.
Best for: Seafood lovers, families, nature escapes and spring road trips.
Need to know: Accommodation and ticketed experiences should be booked early. The full festival program is available via the Wild Harvest Seafood Festival website.
Lightscape
Lightscape is back at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, turning the city’s most beautiful after-dark walk into a full sensory hit of colour, sound and large-scale light. The 2026 trail features new installations, new artists and glowing pathways weaving through the gardens, with interactive works, illuminated trees, music and winter snacks along the way. It is one of Melbourne’s biggest cold-weather crowd-pleasers for a reason: easy to book, easy to love and dazzling enough to make a weeknight feel worth the effort.
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne
When: Friday 12 June to Sunday 2 August
Cost: From $28
Best For: Date nights, families, visiting friends, night walkers and anyone who wants Melbourne winter with the brightness dialled up.
Need To Know: Entry is via Observatory Gate near the Visitor Centre, opposite the Shrine of Remembrance. Sessions are timed, and the trail runs Wednesday to Sunday, plus every day during the winter school holidays.
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.
Where: Oscars Walk and Bath Lane, Bendigo
When: Until 13 December
Cost: Free
Best For: Families; School holiday outings; Regional exploring; Big kids at heart; Photo hunters
Need To Know: On every night from 7pm to 11pm
Free Things to Do
Treaty at State Library
State Library Victoria’s free Treaty exhibition is a powerful stop for anyone wanting to better understand Victoria’s past, present and future. Held in the South Rotunda, the exhibition explores the 1835 Batman Treaty through original documents, maps, John Wesley Burtt’s painting of the signing and video perspectives from Victorian Aboriginal communities. As Victoria continues its path towards Truth and Treaty, this is a rare chance to sit with the archive, the contested history and the conversations still shaping the state today.
Where: South Rotunda, State Library Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
When: Until Sunday 18 October 2026
Cost: Free
Best For: History buffs, thoughtful city wanderers, students, culture seekers and anyone wanting a deeper understanding of Victoria.
Need To Know: No bookings are required. The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
Coming Soon
Bolobek Garden Fair
The Bolobek Garden Fair returns to Macedon on the first weekend in October, opening one of Victoria’s most beautiful private gardens for a rare spring weekend of plants, food and horticultural inspiration.
More than 50 specialist stallholders will gather across the historic property, selling rare plants, bulbs, garden tools, gourmet produce and wine, while guided tours reveal the stories behind Bolobek’s celebrated landscape. This year’s keynote speaker is Brae head gardener Jo Lawson, sharing her approach to seasonal growing, cooking and life close to the soil.
All profits support horticultural, botanical and environmental projects across the Macedon Ranges.
Best for: Garden lovers, spring day trips and rare private-garden access
When: Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026, 10am–4pm
Where: Bolobek, 370 Mount Macedon Road, Macedon
Price: $20; children under 16 enter free
Melbourne Fringe Festival 2026
Melbourne Fringe returns with 20 days of theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus, dance, music and gloriously unpredictable performance across the city. Trades Hall and Meat Market are the major playgrounds of this year’s program, joined by bars, galleries and unconventional venues.
The full lineup lands on 7th August, with hundreds of independent shows running from late September into October.
Best for: Culture seekers, adventurous date nights and discovering emerging talent
When: Tuesday 29 September to Sunday 18 October 2026
Where: Venues across Melbourne
Price: Varies by event
Barbie: The Exhibition
Barbie: The Exhibition is making its Australian debut at Melbourne Museum this summer, charting 67 years of the world’s most famous doll through design, fashion, architecture and pop culture. Created by London’s Design Museum in partnership with Mattel, the blockbuster show features more than 250 objects, including 150 dolls, a rare 1959 first edition Barbie, Totally Hair Barbie, Ken, dream houses, vehicles, accessories and prototypes. It is bright, nostalgic and genuinely fascinating, whether Barbie was your childhood icon or your favourite 2023 personality test.
Where: Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens
When: From 28 November 2026
Cost: From $20 per child; $30 per adult
Best For: Barbie fans, design lovers, nostalgia seekers, families and anyone still emotionally attached to Totally Hair Barbie.
Need To Know: Tickets are on sale now, and this is the exhibition’s Australian debut after a huge run at London’s Design Museum. Expect more than 250 objects, including 150 dolls and a rare 1959 first edition Barbie.
What’s On This Month in Melbourne: FAQs
The top events in Melbourne in late July 2026 include Open House Melbourne from 24 to 26 July, Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Gardens until 2 August and the Winter Night Market at Queen Victoria Market every Wednesday until 26 August. August brings the Melbourne International Film Festival from 6 to 23 August, Now or Never from 19 to 30 August and NGV Friday Nights: Cartier every Friday until 2 October. Looking further ahead, Melbourne Fringe runs from 29 September to 18 October, followed by the Melbourne International Jazz Festival from 16 to 25 October.
As of late July 2026, Melbourne’s food calendar is led by Queen Victoria Market’s Winter Night Market, running Wednesdays until 26 August. This weekend, Crane Bar hosts its Winter Warmers Market with mulled Negronis, hot toddies, oysters and fondue. August brings Prahran Market’s Potato Party on 8 August, Longrain’s Silk & Spice dinner on 13 August, and the Melbourne Cheese, Wine & Spirit Festival at Seaworks on 22 August too.
Melbourne’s essential art and cultural experiences right now include Cartier at the NGV, featuring nearly 500 jewels, archival pieces and design objects, plus NGV Friday Nights with live music and drinks. Lightscape illuminates the Royal Botanic Gardens until 2 August, while Open House Melbourne unlocks hidden buildings from 24 to 26 July. In August, Now or Never brings large-scale art, sound and technology across the city centre.
Melbourne’s live calendar includes NGV Friday Nights: Cartier, pairing the exhibition with live music, food and drinks every Friday until 2 October. August brings Now or Never, a citywide festival of art, sound and technology from 19 to 30 August, plus Vivaldi’s Legacy by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra from 20 to 23 August. Melbourne International Film Festival also runs from 6 to 23 August, too.
As of late July 2026, Melbourne’s best family activities include Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Gardens until 2 August, ACMI’s hands-on Play School exhibition until 26 July and the free Children’s Play exhibition at the NGV. August brings Little Kids Day In: Caring for Country at Scienceworks on 3 August, plus MIFF Fulldome planetarium screenings on 8 and 15 August. Melbourne Museum’s Children’s Gallery remains a reliable rainy-day option too.
As of late July 2026, Melbourne’s best free experiences include Open House Melbourne’s open-access buildings from 24 to 26 July, Queen Victoria Market’s Winter Night Market every Wednesday until 26 August, and NGV Australia’s FUTURE COUNTRY exhibition until 13 September. Rare Book Week brings free talks and tours, including World of the Book on 31 July, while State Library Victoria’s rare-book exhibitions offer a cultural stop throughout winter in Melbourne.
Melbourne’s next major events include MIFF from 6 to 23 August and Now or Never from 19 to 30 August. Spring brings the AFL Grand Final on 26 September, Melbourne Fringe from 29 September to 18 October, and the Melbourne Royal Show from 24 September to 4 October. October then welcomes the Melbourne International Jazz Festival from 16 to 25 October.
Looking for more fun things to do in Melbourne this winter? 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 and surrounds.
