Massive list of what’s on in Melbourne and regional Victoria in January 2026 (115+ activities and events)

This list is updated regularly, so be sure to check back.

What’s on throughout January 2026

• Silver’s Circus is at The Village Green in Rosebud from 2-18 January 2026.
• Eroni’s Circus is at Phillip Island from 2-26 January 2026.
• A huge pop-up water park will be at Dandenong South from 3 January to 1 February 2026.
•  Balloon Story is making its Australian debut as it transforms entire worlds using nothing but biodegradable balloons. Every creature, setting and scene is hand-built, inviting visitors to wander through a playful universe where art, storytelling and imagination collide. The Melbourne season will open at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4-31 January 2026.
• There’s a Children’s Festival at Sky High Mount Dandenong from 6-15 January with different activities each day
• The Summertime Fling Cellar Door Festival is a celebration of wine, summer and good times in the scenic Macedon Ranges wine region from 9-31 January
• Step inside Melbourne’s iconic 1847 house, and experience the warmth and wonder of a Victorian-era Christmas at Como House South Yarra until 11 January.
• Melbourne’s most beloved festive tradition returns this year bigger, brighter and more playful than ever, as Myer marks the 70th anniversary of its iconic Christmas Windows with a spectacular collaboration with the LEGO Group – on display daily until 11 January.
• The Big Bounce Australia featuring the world’s Biggest jumping castle and a giant 900ft inflatable obstacle course is at Flemington Racecourse until 11 January.
• The Australian Open tennis returns to Melbourne Park from 12 January to 1 February.
• Midsumma Festival will return to Victoria from 18 January to 8 February, bringing more than 200 events to over 150 venues statewide. The long-running celebration of LGBTQIA+ arts and culture once again places lived experience at the centre, inviting audiences to explore work that spans performance, visual art, literature, family events and late-night happenings.
• One of Australia’s most popular activities, Pixar Putt is a pop-up mini-golf experience featuring interactive holes inspired by the beloved characters, stories and worlds of Pixar films. It’s on at Marvel Stadium until 18 January.
• Experience all the fun of the fair on Warrnambool’s Foreshore at the Warrnambool Summer Family Carnival until 24 January.
• From the runways of Paris to the NGV … Australian fashion legend Martin Grant returns home to Melbourne with the biggest exhibition of his career. Studded with his signature silhouettes and timeless tailoring, this glittering retrospective is not to be missed. Catch it until 26 January 2025 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square.
• LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition is making its galaxy-first debut at Melbourne Museum until 26 January 2026. This world-first exhibition brings two of the world’s most beloved brands together with renowned LEGO Certified Professional Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught at the controls.
• A thousand years of mystery, craftsmanship, and cultural connection come to life this winter as Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard  at Melbourne Museum until 26 January.
• The Rye Summer Carnival is on at the Rye Foreshore until 26 January.
• The Apollo Bay Summer Carnival is on at the Apollo Bay Foreshore until 26 January.
• Enjoy lavender season at Warratina Lavender Farm in the Yarra Valley until 26 January. Wander through rows upon rows of blooming lavender, relax in their manicured gardens, visit their drying shed for lavender talks or grab a snack at the tea rooms.
• The Mordialloc Christmas Summer Carnival is on at Peter Scullin Reserve until 26 January presented by Smart Amusements.
• Enjoy camel rides in Port Fairy until 27 January
• Get ready to tinker, build, and innovate! Scienceworks is launching its newest hands-on exhibition, Tinkertown, until 7 February 2026, promising to inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, and creators.
• The Koorie Art Show at Koorie Heritage Trust runs til 22 February andi s dedicated to showcasing the work of Koorie and Victorian-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists through a statewide call for entries.
• A psychedelic wave of music history is set to wash over Lilydale as Enjoy This Trip: The Art of Music Posters arrives at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum until 22 February. Drawn from the National Gallery of Australia’s remarkable collection of Australian and international posters, the exhibition brings the bold colour, electric energy and boundary-pushing creativity of the 1960s to 1980s into sharp focus. 
• A classic story is coming to life along the Murray River, with Wonderland on the Murray now running across Echuca Moama as a large-scale Alice in Wonderland sand sculpture trail. Open until 9 March 2026, the free event transforms public spaces throughout the twin towns into a family-friendly adventure, featuring handcrafted sand installations created by Sandstorm Events.
• Melbourne’s original and longest-running night market is back, as the Queen Victoria Market prepares to celebrate 25 years of summer evenings filled with sizzling street food, live music and twilight shopping. The Summer Night Market runs weekly until 11 March 2026. 
• Camouflage is an exhibition running at The Shrine until March 2026. See how nature has inspired military disguise—from animal patterns to clever tricks of deception. Explore real camouflage uniforms, historical objects, and rotating artworks by well-known artists. Follow the evolution of camouflage from the First World War to today and learn how it reflects changing military strategies, culture, and creativity.
• Melbourne’s much-loved Moonlight Cinema will mark its 30th birthday this summer with a program shaped entirely by audiences at the Royal Botanic Gardens until Sunday 5 April 2026.
• The National Gallery of Victoria’ its’s summer blockbuster event – Westwood | Kawakubo – is a world-exclusive exhibition celebrating two of fashion’s most revolutionary designers. Running until 19 April 2026, the exhibition spotlights the boundary-pushing work of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo across five decades of radical design.
• The Blue Lotus Water Garden at Yarra Junction is one of Australia’s most spectacular seasonal gardens open to the public until 19 April 2026. The tropically themed water garden covers 14 acres featuring millions of beautiful lotus, waterlily and other flowers, stunning lakes, amazing vistas and wonderful facilities
• Melbourne will host the first Asia-Pacific edition of the award-winning Formula 1 Exhibition, offering fans an immersive journey through the sport’s past, present and future. Running until 19 April 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the exhibition arrives just ahead of the F1 season opener at Albert Park.
• London’s Victoria and Albert Museum’s acclaimed exhibition DIVA makes its Australian debut at the new Australian Museum of Performing Arts until 26 April 2026. It is spectacular showcase of more than 250 objects, including 60 show stopping costumes, jewellery, photography, art and music and explores explores the evolution of the term “diva” — from 19th-century opera stars to today’s global pop icons.
• The ever-popular Skyline Ferris Wheel makes its return in St Kilda until 26 April. Take in the breath-taking views of the St Kilda foreshore and pier with unparalleled views!
• Visit Hanging Rock Winery to experience the Art in the Vines Sculpture Exhibition until 30 April 2026 and wander a trail of discovery, glass-in-hand, through this extraordinary exhibition of contemporary outdoor sculpture.
• Running until May 2026 at the Shrine of Remembrance, the Her Story exhibition shines a light on the experiences of female Victorian veterans. Created by photographer Carla Edwards, the exhibition combines portraits and interviews that explore the lives of women who served across generations. 
• The National Gallery of Victoria will be transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour, creativity and movement with Let’s Party! Fashion for Kids: Designed by Danielle Brustman, a free interactive exhibition opening at NGV International from until 3 May 2026.
• The world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, now in its sixty-first year and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, is at the National Wool Museum in Geelong until 17 May, featuring some of the most exceptional nature photography taken today from across the globe.
• Melbourne’s love affair with gaming is set to reach new heights at ACMI with Game Worlds – a massive interactive exhibition that plunges visitors into 30 iconic videogame universes, with 20 fully playable experiences. Running until 3 July 2026, this deep dive into gaming culture promises to be a must-see for casual players and hardcore fans alike.
• Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Eucalypts of Hodogaya at the Shrine explores the remarkable collaboration that created the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama where more than 1,500 Commonwealth soldiers, including Australians, are buried in a garden blending Western and Japanese traditions. It runs until August 2026.
• Shane Warne’s legacy will take centre stage at a major exhibition presented by the Melbourne Cricket Club of the late cricket icon’s most prized personal items at the Australian Sports Museum until 9 August 2026. WARNE: Treasures of a Legend will feature 48 pieces from his career, offering rare access to objects that shaped one of Australia’s most celebrated sporting stories.
  

What’s on in and around Melbourne 1-11 January 2026

• Sing along to musical faves like Mamma Mia! and Grease. Then kick on with action-packed flicks including The Matrix and Terminator at Fed Square’s free sunset cinema sessions from 2-8 January.
• Pipeworks Market in Thomastown is having a free jumping castles weekend on 3-4 January.
• The Peninsula Summer Music Festival is on from 3-11 January.
• The I Wore It Once market is on in Mornington on 3 January.
• Abbotsford Convent’s beloved Sunset Cinema returns to the Heritage Gardens this summer; offering open-air films for the whole family until 4 January.
• The Rye Psychic and Wellbeing Expo is on 4 January.
• The Knox City Rodeo is on at the Caribbean Gardens on 9 January.
• The 2026 Peninsula Film Festival is on from 9-11 January.
• The Vida Melbourne Latin Festival returns to the Kings Domain Gardens on 10-11 January.
• There’s a Family Fun Day at Coburg Swimming Pool on 10 January.
• The NGV Kids Summer Festival from 10-16 January is a  week of free activities and events just for children, teens and families.
• There’s a Kite Festival in Narre Warren on 10 January.
• The Melbourne Wedding and Bride Summer Bridal Expo is on at the Showgrounds on 11 January.
• The annual Fitzroy Bowls Record Fair is on 11 January.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 12-18 January 2026

• Kids go free on day one of the Australian Open on Monday 12 January.
• DroneArt Show is lighting up the sky in at Caulfield Racecourse. As night falls on 16-17 January, hundreds of illuminated drones take off and create stunning shapes in the sky, moving in time with live classical music. Choreographed perfectly to the music, this open-air concert paints the night with light, color, and wonder, a true concert in the sky.
• Brickvention is Australia’s premier LEGO fan convention. The highly anticipated annual event features a huge collection of LEGO models including trains, castles, pirates, Star Wars, space ships, planes, buildings, sculptures and much more. It’s on at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton on 17-18 January. 
• The Sandown Revival Motoring Festival on 17-18 January will feature 240 classic and exotic vehicles competing in SuperSprint and Regularity events on the historic Sandown track.
• The St Albans Family Fun Day is on 17 January.
• There’s a Summer Beach Party Family Fun Day in Pascoe Vale on 17 January.
• The St Albans Lunar Festival returns on Sunday 18 January 2026
• The Melbourne Bridal and Wedding Expo is on at MCEC on 18 January.
• Join in free activities including a DJ, pool inflatables, games and relays at Aquanation in Ringwood on 18 January.
• Midsumma Carnival is an iconic full-day outdoor extravaganza dedicated to kicking off the Midsumma Festival. Located in Alexandra Gardens on 18 January the event features a vast array of LGBTQIA+ acts that will grace the four carnival stages: Main, Picnic, Sports and Family. This popular annual day event attracts around 120,000 people and entry is free!
• The 9th annual Northern Car/Bike Show N Shine is on in Pascoe Vale on 18 January.
  

What’s on in and around Melbourne 19-25 January 2026

• Ignite Productions is hosting a summer pool party at the Melton Waves Pool on 23 January.
• Melbourne’s Kite Flying Festival is on in Pakenham on 24 January.
• The 5K Foam Fest event in Wandin North on 24 January 2026 is a one-of-a-kind obstacle course-based fun run.
• The Williamstown Mega Car Show is on 24 January.
• The Tamil Festival of Australia is on at the Caribbean Gardens in Scoresby on 25 January.
• Experience life on a nineteenth-century farm at the Gulf Station Open Day in Yarra Glen on 25 January. Explore historic buildings and heritage machinery, meet the Clydesdales, and enjoy live blade-shearing, spinning and weaving demonstrations. 

What’s on in and around Melbourne 26-31 January 2026

• The second annual Ferny Creek Show and Shine is on 26 January.
• Australia Day in Wyndham brings together all the family-friendly favourites – from live music and kids’ activities to sporting games and more at Point Cook on 26 January
• Australia Day celebrations will be held at Ringwood Lake Park on Monday 26 January 2026.
• Government House Victoria will once again open to the public on Australia Day – 26 January.
• Pipeworks Market in Thomastown is hosting an Australia Day family event on 26 January.
• Summer Jam is back in Prahran! This long-running basketball tournament showcasing grassroots talent returns to Prahran on 26 January 2026.
• Celebrate summer with the much-loved Celebrate summer with the much-loved Celebrate summer with the much-loved Whitehorse Australia Day Concert in Nunawading on 26 January.
• Discover everything you need for your backyard oasis in one place at the Pool Spa Life Expo at MCEC from 30 January to 1 February.
• Australasia’s only festival dedicated entirely to fulldome cinema will return to the Melbourne Planetarium this summer, bringing with it a global lineup of cutting edge immersive films. The Dome Under Film Festival (DUFF), now in its sixth year, will run from Friday 30 January to Sunday 1 February 2026 and is set to showcase some of the newest and most imaginative works in the fast evolving 360 degree format.
• Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a vibrant multicultural program in Williamstown on 31 January led by guzheng artist QiQi. Enjoy free live music and dance performances throughout the afternoon, along with a special visit from the God of Wealth.
• Spend the evening at Prahran Square at the open-air piano bar where you choose the songlist on 31 January.  Sing along to all of your favourite songs by request, from gay anthems to showtunes, classic pop and rock to recent hits.
• The Gay Stuff Market is on at the Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda as part of Midsumma on 31 January.
• Join in the Sports Family Fun Day at Fawkner Leisure Centre on 31 January.

What’s on in regional Victoria 1-31 January 2026

• Lakes Entrance Foreshore Summer Carnival is on until 1 January.
• The Ballarat Rodeo is on 2 January.
• The Katamatite Rodeo is on 3 January
• The Portarlington Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 3-4 January.
• Geelong’s Floating Christmas Tree sound and light show runs until 7 January with a six-minute show every 15 minutes nightly between 8.30pm-midnight.
• The Bass Coast Wonthaggi Show is on 10 January
• The Alexandra Pro Rodeo is on 10 January
• The Portarlington Mussel Festival is on 10 January.
• The Inverloch Psychic and Wellbeing Expo is on 10 January.
• The Traralgon Rodeo is on 11 January.
• The Torquay Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 11 January.
• The Outdoor Living Caravan and Camping Expo is on at the Geelong Showgrounds on 16-18 January
• The Queenscliff Collectables and Craft Market is on 17 January.
• The Tatura Food Truck Festival is on 17 January.
• The official Yarra Valley Rodeo is on in Yarra Glen on 17 January.
• The Bendigo Pro Rodeo is on 17 January
• The Tooradin Truck Show and Tractor Pull 2026 will be held on 17 January
• The Geelong Beer Festival is on 17 January.
• The Phillip Island Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 17 January.
• Queenscliff Coast Guard is holding an Open Day and Community Market on Sunday 18 January 2026 to recognise 50 years of Volunteer Marine Rescue in the waters around Queenscliff.
• The Annual 34th Centre State Swap Meet, Show n Shine is on at the Bendigo Racecourse on 18 January.
• The Korumburra Pro Rodeo is on 23 January.
• The 2026 Neerim Rodeo is on 24 January.
• Experience three days of world-class sailing, live music, great food and summer energy, all set against one of Victoria’s most iconic waterfronts at the Festival of Sails in Geelong from 24-27 January.
• The Great Western Show and Shine is on 25 January.
• The Bairnsdale Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 25 January.
• Portarlington will be celebrating Australia Day on 26 January and during the long weekend with a free community event.
• The City of Ballarat’s Australia Day Picnic in the Park returns to Victoria Park on 26 January.
• Grab your picnic rugs or chairs and join family, friends and the community for a morning of Australia Day celebrations along Mildura’s iconic riverfront on Monday 26 January.
• Attracting more than 140,000 attendees, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is Australia’s premier cycling event from 28 January to 1 February.
• Eroni’s Circus is at Wonthaggi from 30 January to 1 February.