Melbourne Events

Public Holidays

The week-long Melbourne International Jazz Festival week features an excellent line-up with more than 100 unique jazz performances by top artists and performers. Popular venues like the Hamer Hall, Bennett’s Lane Jazz...

Experience a journey of good food and wine at Melbourne’s internationally acclaimed Good Food & Wine Festival. Sommeliers, winemakers and chefs from all over Australia come here to showcase their best harvests and...

The Mind, Body and Spirit Festival held biannually in Melbourne is one of the few festivals celebrated in Australia that solely focuses on health, wellness and natural therapies. The festival welcomes more than 200...

The Melbourne International Singers Festival is celebrated amid public festivities and features world-class singing, performances and an array of outstanding vocal and musical workshops – held every June and...

The Melbourne International Animation Festival is a forum that brings together animators from all over the world. These animation works are selected from the creme de la creme of recent and historical releases. The...

The Williamstown Literary Festival (aka the Willy Lit Fest) is an event which brings together readers and writers for one of the biggest literary festivals in Victoria. The festival runs for two days and will take place...

The Melbourne Bridal and Honeymoon Expo is a popular exhibition held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre which offers information on everything you will need to plan your wedding. As one of the most...

The Melbourne Wedding & Bride Expo is one of the most popular fashion festivals celebrated in Melbourne, and features bridal fashion parades, catwalk shows and lavish wedding stalls. Brides-to-be from all over...

The Melbourne Boat Show is is the largest event for the local marine industry, with thousands of exhibitors gathering in the city to display their latest products and services every year. Some of the main products...

The Melbourne Magic Festival is one of a kind in Australia, and is easily regarded as the ultimate winter festival in Melbourne. Founded in 2008 by the Australian Institute of Magic, the festival seeks to bring together...

Each and every year, children are dazzled and amazed by the huge production that comes to Melbourne during winter; Disney on Ice. A huge ice skating extravaganza, each show presents some of your favourite Disney...

The SpotJobs Career Expo is the largest and most comprehensive careers event in Australia. The event showcases career opportunities from large employers, trades to higher education in an exciting, interactive and...

Open House Melbourne is a free event that offers a chance to explore the city’s most historic and significant buildings, religious structures and architectural monuments. The best part is you don’t have to pay any...

Run Melbourne (formerly “The Age Run Melbourne”) is a great running event that encourages participants of all ages to come forward and showcase their athletic skills. Participants of this event will enjoy...

The Melbourne International Film Festival is one of the most popular events in Melbourne and is held over three weeks around July and August every year. Founded in 1952, the film festival is one of the oldest in the...

The Melbourne Home Show (also known as the HIA Home Show) is a large exhibition relating to all things home and garden held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Melbourne Home Show will introduce...

The National 4×4 Outdoors Show and Fishing Boat Expo in Melbourne is a premier event that includes 4WD exhibitions, boats and caravans, as well as a special exhibition that features a vast array of fishing, BBQ and...

The Melbourne Writers Festival is another cultural event catering for writers and readers; that includes a diverse schedule of educational programs, workshops, interactive sessions and entertainment options for all...

Melbourne Day is an annual celebration which marks the founding of the great city of Melbourne on the 30th of August 1835. Each year, there are a number of fun FREE events held throughout the Melbourne CBD with a...

Fashion models, designers and retailers gather in Melbourne every September to celebrate Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. This event is one of a kind and includes runway shows, fashion parades, exhibitions, films and even...

The residents of Melbourne come together every September to celebrate the famous Melbourne Fringe Festival. This unique event welcomes more than 3400 independent artists to participate and display their finest artwork...

Taking place over the September school holidays, the Royal Melbourne Show is celebrated over 11 wonderful days and includes everything from exciting rides and family entertainment to arts, crafts and barn yard animals...

As thousands travel to Munich for Oktoberfest, Melbourne residents are treated to a huge range of events as they celebrate their own version of Oktoberfest, right in the heart of Melbourne. There are a number of...

These September school holidays Harbour Town Melbourne and the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel host The Footy District, the ultimate AFL fun for kids! Everyday between 12pm – 4pm from Saturday 23rd September to Sunday...

Just like the many other sporting events, the Grand Final has become an essential part of Australian culture. So much so that the Friday before Grand Final Day has been declared a public holiday in Victoria. AFL Grand...

Anytime you visit Melbourne, you can be sure to catch a festival or two and if visiting in October, visitors will get to enjoy the Melbourne Festival. The Melbourne Festival represents Australia’s unique culture...

8 days of free public transport, including all V/Line services, will be provided to Victorian Seniors Card holders between 7 – 14 October 2018. The Victorian Seniors Festival is an event to honour seniors in...

The Melbourne Fitness & Health Expo is on again in 2018 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Come down and discover the latest information on health, fitness and overall wellness with a number of...

While Melbourne’s list of sporting events includes internationally renowned cricket matches, football games and tennis tournaments, the Melbourne Marathon is considered the most popular marathon held in the city...

The Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne is a series of thoroughbred horse races held every year in the months of October and November. The Melbourne Cup is the premier event of the Spring Racing Carnival and is held on...

Lygon Street Fiesta, also known as La Dolce Italia or the Carlton Italian Festa, is a melting pot that showcases Italy’s diverse culture in Melbourne. The celebration of Italy’s culture brings together...

PAX Australia (Penny Arcade Expo) is a gaming event that started in the USA in 2004. The first Australian PAX event was held in 2013 and has now become the biggest gaming event in Australia with thousands of people...

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF) is an independent festival which shows films in venues around Melbourne from new and upcoming filmmakers. The MUFF has been running since the year 2000, so 2018 will mark...

Derby Day is a popular thoroughbred horse race which is held every year as part of the Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington Racecourse. Derby Day is always held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, and in 2018 will...

In the lead-up to the “race that stops the nation”, the City of Melbourne gets in on the festivities each year by hosting the Melbourne Cup Parade. This year, the procession will start on the corner of Swanston and...

Every year, Australians come together to celebrate the most popular horse race on the calendar, Melbourne Cup Day. The Melbourne Cup is the premier event of the Spring Racing Carnival and is held on the first Tuesday in...

Kennedy Oaks Day, also known as “Ladies Day” is a popular thoroughbred horse race which is held every year as part of the Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington Racecourse. Formerly known as ‘Crown Oaks Day’...

Emirates Stakes Day, also known as “Family Day” is a popular thoroughbred horse race which is held every year as part of the Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington Racecourse. Stakes Day is always held on the Saturday...

The citizens of Australia come together every year to observe Remembrance Day. This event always celebrated at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month (11th November) remembers the of signing of...

The Victoria State Rose Garden is the largest and best-maintained public rose garden in Australia. So make sure to stop by in November to enjoy the State Rose and Garden Show which is hosted in the gardens every year...

Equitana Melbourne is a huge event which showcases the very best of equine competitions and exhibitions and will be next held in Melbourne in 2018. Originating in 1999, Equitana Melbourne is a fantastic family friendly...

There will be no Melbourne SEXPO in 2018 – Check back for details on a 2019 show! SEXPO is a sexuality, health and lifestyle exhibition which runs most years at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. This...

Melbourne Music Week is a huge festival that draws fans from all over the nation. It is one of the largest celebrations of music in the country – usually held around mid-November and lasting for a week. The best...

Colour Run Melbourne is the most fun 5km run event in Australia where runners can run, skip, walk or dance their way around the course whilst they get flung with colour. This is an un-timed event where participants of...

Each year, the City of Melbourne hosts a free month long festival in the Melbourne CBD known as the Christmas Festival which brings a little bit of magic to Melbourne for the Christmas season. There are many events and...

The Big Design Market is a huge 3 day design expo which brings customers over 230 stalls of homewares, fashion, furniture and kids products. Held at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens, this expo is held in...

Get your cork-string Santa hats ready for the most thrilling family circus show to hit Melbourne – Santa’s Break-Down Under! Under the starry night sky, joined by acrobats and daring aerialists, a crane...

If you are in Melbourne around Christmas time, don’t miss the most popular Christmas event known as Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight. This huge event is a massive Christmas celebration where families come...

Australia’s annual sports calendar is not just confined to the AFL Grand Final and Australian Open. It also includes motor racing events, marathons and international cricket matches. Certainly at the forefront of the...

The most memorable outdoor cinema experience, The Sunset Cinema, is returning to Melbourne for the 2018/19 season, with a whole new look and feel. Gather your friends and family, sit back, relax and watch the stars as...

There are only a few events that are celebrated worldwide, with New Year’s being celebrated in every corner of the earth. Whether it’s the fireworks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Ball drop at Times Square...

Every year, the citizens of Melbourne celebrate the Latin Summer Festival. This is a free event that welcomes the Latin communities and Australians to get together and enjoy the Latin culture; including music, dance and...

Melbourne’s annual celebration of gay and lesbian culture and art is also known as the Midsumma festival. It is the largest cultural festival of its type, celebrated in the city since 1988. You’ll find everything...

Melbourne’s extensive list of sporting events also includes one of the four major tennis world Grand Slams – the Australian Open. In January every year, Melbourne hosts this tennis tournament at Rod Laver Arena...

The Herald Sun Tour is a professional race for cyclists and the oldest of its kind in Australia. As one of the most popular sporting events in Melbourne, the tour is an integral part of Melbourne’s culture. The...

The Sustainable Living Festival runs for 3 weeks and promotes solutions to global warming by promoting sustainable living practices. Started in 1998, the festival attracts over 150,000 people each year and has become...

As there is a large community of Chinese-Australians living in Victoria, Melbournians love celebrating Chinese New Year year after year. 2019 is the year of the Pig. Although this festival is celebrated all across the...

What started as a tiny indi music event in the laneways of Melbourne, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival has now become one of the most loved music festivals in Australia. The Laneway Festival started in Melbourne in...

For the Greek Community living in Australia, the Lonsdale Street Festival (formerly Antipodes Festival) is a must-attend event that celebrates the rich culture and food of Greece. The festival brings together Greek...

St. Kilda Festival is a nine-day event held in Melbourne and whose culmination is a summer-style celebration of arts and music along the gorgeous St. Kilda foreshore. Part and parcel of Melbourne’s timeless...

One of Australia’s most invigorating and popular cultural events, White Night is celebrated in Melbourne and brings the city to life in an amazing way. At the core of the event is a celebration of everything artistic...

When autumn hits the city, Melbourne celebrates the fashion festival of the season also known as the Melbourne Fashion Festival.

The Melbourne Ukulele Festival is a fun event where lovers of music come together to listen, play and sing along to all things involving the ukulele! The festival is held at the Northcote Town hall, High Street...

The Sydney Road Street Party is a cultural festival and one of the largest street-based festivals in Melbourne. Held as part of the Brunswick Music Festival which runs for 2 weeks, the Sydney Road Street Party is one...

One Fine Day Wedding Fair takes the hard work out of planning a fresh, creative and fun wedding day and will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. They handpick over 100 of the best wedding vendors in and around...

Melbournians come together every year to share, cheer and spread the festive spirit for the Moomba Festival. After all, Moomba has been celebrated in Melbourne for over half a century, and is held every Labour Day long...

Melbourne has been hosting the famous Queer Film Festival since 1991; making it one of the oldest queer film festivals in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere. This film event is the second largest film...

Experience an amazing culinary journey, diverse cuisines and contemporary fusion food culture at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. This decade old celebration is one of the best culinary festivals around Australia...

Every year, the citizens of Melbourne celebrate a number of multicultural festivals around the city; including the ever popular Chinese New Year, the Summer Latin Festival and Victoria’s Multicultural Festival...

The Warrandyte Festival has been a staple of this country town since 1977 and is celebrating its 42nd year! Come on up to Warrandyte to celebrate this wonderful festival filled with food, drinks, live music, a parade as...

The Herald Sun / CityLink Run for the Kids is one of the great local events in Melbourne aimed at fundraising for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Participants can choose to walk or run the 15.3km long...

The Irish Festival is one of the most popular Irish events in Australia, gathering both locals and foreigners together to celebrate their Irish roots in a day of family fun. Held on the Sunday before Saint...

Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Melbourne to witness blooming gardens, colourful trails and beautiful flowering plants at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show; hosted at the UNESCO World...

Of all of the events held in Melbourne, the Australian Grand Prix is one of the largest and most popular. People from all over the world come here to watch the Grand Prix, with this event certainly increasing visitors...