Melbourne Events and Festivals

Australia Day: the nation’s biggest annual celebration focuses on the thing it loves most: itself. Melbourne pulls out all the stops for this important national holiday with concerts, special events and a massive fireworks display.

Australian Tennis Open: this major stop on the world tennis circuit draws huge crowds to the Olympic Parks to watch the hottest stars in the sport. This is the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, and one of Australia’s most prestigious sporting events, so Melbourne is sure to be hopping and crowded.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival: around 140 citywide events are scheduled over 10 days along the banks of the Yarra River to celebrate this city’s deep culinary heritage. Famous winemakers mingle with celebrity chefs to showcase their talents and offer workshops.

Midsumma: for three weeks the gay community of Melbourne puts on their version of Mardi Gras. The infamous Street Party is followed by the Pride March and many other fun, festive and colourful events.

Flickerfest: Australia’s premier festival for short films happens each year at Kino Dendy. International filmmakers join Australian stars for a big competition which always draws huge crowds for this unique cinematic event.

Melbourne Moomba Waterfest: Melbourne’s most popular annual party is something of a Mardi Gras for all ages. Music concerts, the Moomba Carnivale and dozens of international parades bring the whole city to life. Along the Yarra River, a championship wake boarding and waterskiing competition take place, while other amazing water sports are also put on display.

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show: many argue that this flower event is the most stunning in Australia. For five days every spring, more than 100,000 visitors come to admire the 350 floral exhibits in the Carlton Gardens. All areas of gardening are covered, with many workshops, botanical shows and other fun events.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival: the city becomes the hottest spot in the southern hemisphere for music during its annual jazz festival. Many legendary names in jazz come here to jam with each other in rare concerts at venues all over Melbourne.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: more than 1,000 comedians come to Melbourne to appear in over 100 shows of all kinds, making this one of the world’s premier comedy events. Australian comics are accompanied by some of the funniest humans from other countries to perform standup, street entertainment, theatre and cabaret.

Winter Wine Weekend: the regional wineries from Mornington peninsula open their doors to welcome in another season of delicious cool climate wines from the valley. More than 150 local Melbourne wines are offered for tasting, and a number of seminars and workshops are given by famous winemakers.

Melbourne International Film Festival: one of Australia’s most famous film festivals has been held annually since 1952. For three weeks, more than 350 feature films, shorts and documentaries are screened at several lovely theatres around the city. This festival also hosts the only international short film competition in Australia, so there’s always lots of hype surrounding this 19-day extravaganza.

Melbourne Fringe: this zany, off-the-wall annual event presents some of the most avant-garde and innovative theatrical performances on earth. Theatres around the city host a range of wonderful performances, but many of the most interesting things happen impromptu right on the streets of Melbourne when you least expect it.

Melbourne International Arts Festival: Australia’s premier celebration of the arts takes over Melbourne each year for two weeks. Many of the world’s most talented artists in the realms of dance, theatre, opera, music and visual arts descend on the city to showcase their latest creations. This is one event not to miss if you are in the city during October.

Emirates Melbourne Cup: the largest horseracing event in the southern hemisphere comes to Melbourne each November. The action takes places at the Victoria Racing Club’s Flemington Racecourse, where more than 120,000 spectators come to watch more than 20 thoroughbreds compete for this coveted title. This race is so important that the country has made it a national holiday.

Handel’s Messiah: among the many beautiful and festive events planned around the Christmas season, the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah is a highlight. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra does this masterpiece justice at the Hamer Hall in Melbourne’s Arts Centre. If you love classical music, book tickets well in advance for this prestigious performance.