Melbourne will become a living laboratory of avant-garde creativity as the Now or Never festival takes over the city from 21–31 August. The 11-day program features over 140 events across iconic venues, with more than 285 local and international artists pushing boundaries in music, installation art, and futuristic discourse – including 30 world-premiere commissions.
The festival’s heartbeat pulses through daring large-scale works:
- The Royal Exhibition Building will house MATRIA, a pink inflatable universe by Barcelona’s Studio Penique, paired with breathwork sessions and nocturnal performances.
- Melbourne Town Hall hosts four nights of genre-defying music, from Québec’s Marie Davidson to Berlin’s Logic1000, while Boris Acket’s Einder – a 20-metre kinetic light sculpture – drapes the space in ethereal soundscapes.
- Dr Christian Thompson AO reimagines Evan Walker Bridge with Burdi Burdi (Fire Fire), a sonic sanctuary for reflection.
- State Library Victoria’s façade becomes an AI-driven canvas with Hamill Industries’ DELIRI, warping reality through projection mapping.
Thought leaders ignite conversations:
- Climate scientist Tim Flannery and ABC’s Hilary Harper dissect eco-futures in I Have Seen the Future.
- Astronomer Dr Tania Hill and Australia’s first flag-bearing astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg explore space exploration’s next frontier.
- First Nations scholars Jessica Russ-Smith and Michelle D. Lazarus challenge AI’s ethics in Charting the Future.
Cinema and sound collide:
- ACMI screens Rashaad Newsome’s Assembly, followed by live Afrofuturist performances.
- Moritz von Oswald debuts Silencio with a 16-voice choir at Melbourne Recital Centre.
- SOFT CENTRE’s PARA.CINE night blends virtual theatre and zoological cinema.
“Now or Never is back, transforming Melbourne into a vibrant hub of creativity, culture and connection,” says Lord Mayor Nick Reece.
“This bold, boundary-pushing festival is a true celebration of Melbourne’s creative spirit,” he said.
Pre-sales begin 19 June with general tickets on sale 23 June. Full program: nowornever.com.au
